Joint Statement from AAU, APLU, BIO, IA, MDMA, NSBA, NVCA, PhRMA, SBTC and USIJ on H.R. 9

Washington, DC – The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU), the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Innovation Alliance (IA), the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA), the National Small Business Association (NSBA), the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the Small Business Technology Council (SBTC) and the Alliance of U.S. Startups and Inventors for Jobs (USIJ) released the following joint statement on H.R. 9, the Innovation Act, which could be considered on the House floor as soon as the week of July 6:

“Together, our organizations represent a broad coalition of universities, inventors, manufacturing, technology and life science companies, small businesses, venture capitalists and startup communities. We stand united in our continued opposition to H.R. 9, the Innovation Act, as it is currently drafted. The bill needs significant work and should not be considered for floor action in the House of Representatives in its current form. As drafted, H.R. 9 would dramatically weaken intellectual property rights and undermine a patent system that is vital to incentivizing innovation and job creation in our country. The bill also fails to adequately address abusive practices against legitimate patent owners. We urge House members to meaningfully revise H.R. 9 to target abuses of patent trolls without damaging our nation’s entire innovation ecosystem.”