Clayton News Daily

Congressman deserves thanks

To the editor:

As President of Georgia Tech, I would like to express my gratitude to U.S. Rep. David Scott for his support in getting patent reform legislation through the House of Representatives.

Once passed into law, the bipartisan America invents Act (H.R. 1249) will provide much-needed reform and common-sense updates to current U.S. patent law.

These changes will ensure adequate funding of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, implement a first-inventor to file system, simplify the patent-application process, and improve patent quality.

We're particularly grateful, because Georgia Tech research labs produce more than 400 invention disclosures annually, making Tech one of the state's top patent producers.

One of the keys to America's, and Georgia's, competitiveness is our ability to move new ideas and innovations quickly from the lab to the marketplace and/ or the manufacturing floor.

modernizing the patent process, we will remove some of the unnecessary burdens on both large and small businesses, thus allowing them to expand and create more jobs.

Thank you, Congressman Scott, for your efforts to help keep our country's economy moving in the right direction.

G.P. "BUD" PETERSON

President, Georgia Institute of Technology