WASHINGTON, DC – The App Developers Alliance enthusiastically supports the Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative, a comprehensive new program announced today by United States Patent and Trademark Office Deputy Director Michelle Lee.
Statement from App Developers Alliance President, Jon Potter:
“PTO’s patent quality improvement program, coupled with the recent appointment of a Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality, is an excellent effort to end the historic problem of poor quality patents being issued. Poor quality patents are the weapons that enable patent trolls to extort businesses. They cost our economy billions.
“Pre-approval quality efforts do not, however diminish the need for comprehensive patent reform legislation. In order to protect innovative job-creators and our innovation economy, America needs legislative reform that that short-circuits frivolous litigation, addresses the imbalance in litigation burdens, and ensures transparency and specificity in demand letters and lawsuit complaints. We look forward to participating in a discussion with the USPTO and other stakeholders to advance critical patent quality issues.”
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The Application Developers Alliance is a non-profit global membership organization that supports developers as creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. We promote industry growth and advocate on public policy and industry issues. The Apps Alliance, which now includes more than 200 corporate members and a 50,000-strong developer network, launched in January of 2012 and initiated European services in early 2014. Membership includes app publishers, developer agencies, platforms, wireless carriers, hardware manufacturers, ad networks, enterprise tools and service providers.
