WASHINGTON, DC - The Innovation Alliance, a coalition technology companies seeking to enhance America's innovation environment by improving the quality of patents and protecting the integrity of the U.S. patent system, today applauded the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote to send President Obama's nominee, David J. Kappos, to the full Senate for approval as the next Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).

Innovation Alliance Statement:

We are pleased the Judiciary Committee was able to expedite Mr. Kappos' nomination on a very busy week for the Committee and the Senate.  Mr. Kappos has a very difficult task ahead of him to revitalize the PTO, which all agree is under funded and overburdened.

We are also pleased that during his nomination hearing, Mr. Kappos was clear in his pledge to maintain impartiality and take all sectors into consideration as the debate on patent reform moves forward.  

We are eager to work with Mr. Kappos, the Obama Administration and the Congress to help ensure that our nation's strong patent protections continue to work for all sectors of the U.S. economy.  We urge the Senate to move forward with a speedy confirmation.