Media Contact: Steve Adamske, 202.225.1943 (Media Only, Please)

Washington, DC – “I appreciate the efforts made by Undersecretary Rogan and the PTO on the revised Strategic Plan.  I understand that an increase in fees is necessary to lower pendency rates and increase the quality of patents granted.  That’s why I would gladly support a bill that raises fees, if those fees were spent solely on improving the PTO.            

"But to quote the former First Lady, I must “just say no” to a bill that continues to divert patent fees to unrelated government programs.  Fee diversion is wrong.  It is an unfair tax on innovation and an unfair tax on investment.  Patent applicants, like the rest of us, are willing to pay their fair share in regular taxes.  They are also willing to pay their fair share to obtain a patent.  But they should not have to subsidize unrelated programs.  Until we solve the problem of fee diversion once and for all, I cannot support this bill or any other one that unfairly taxes innovation.”