PIA's Michael Makin to Testify at Patent Troll Abuse Hearing Tomorrow
WASHINGTON, DC—December 16, 2013—Michael Makin, president and CEO, Printing Industries of America, has been invited by Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to testify on the subject of “Protecting Small Businesses and Promoting Innovation by Limiting Patent Troll Abuse.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The hearing will be broadcast live on Tuesday on the Senate Judiciary Committee Website. The link will go live when the hearing begins at 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, December 17, 2013.
Curbing abusive patent litigation practices (aka “patent trolls”) that have targeted printing companies by an alarming rate this year is a key policy initiative for Printing Industries of America. The future of print depends heavily on innovation and technology. Therefore, America’s printing and graphic communications industry applauds efforts on Capitol Hill to enact legislation that roots out the patent trolls. This will allow printers large and small the freedom to redefine print through the use of new technologies while doing what print has always done best: creating jobs.
Makin will testify along with John J. Dwyer, Jr., president and CEO, New England Federal Credit Union; Dana Rao, vice president and associate general counsel for Intellectual Property Litigation, Adobe Systems; Philip S. Johnson, senior vice president and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Johnson & Johnson, Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform; Steve Bossone, Ph.D., vice president, Intellectual Property, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; Harry A. Wolin, senior vice president, General Counsel and Secretary, AMD; and The Honorable Q. Todd Dickinson, executive director, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Former Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Printing Industries of America looks forward to engaging in conversation with the Senate Judiciary Committee as it seeks legislative solutions to address this problem.
About Printing Industries of America
Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.
Source: PIA.
