WASHINGTON, DC – More than 1000 organizations representing virtually every sector of the U.S. economy have now expressed strong opposition to provisions contained in the current Patent Reform Act (S. 1145) now under consideration in the U.S. Senate.

In multiple letters being sent to U.S. Senators, companies and trade associations representing a vast range of industries and including every size of entity from startup to the nation’s largest corporations, have joined with numerous major American universities and organized labor to urge fundamental changes to the Senate’s patent reform bill.

In addition to multiple national sign-on letters, organizations at the state level have delivered letters to Senators in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The letters uniformly express concern that the current Senate bill would weaken the U.S. patent system – imperiling U.S. innovation, competitiveness and jobs. The letters all agree that the U.S. patent system is the envy of the world, and that weakening it through the proposed measures in the Patent Reform Act would strike at the heart of one of our country’s greatest economic strengths and advantages – our innovation economy.

“It’s rare to see such unified opposition to legislation, and the voices of concern continue to grow,” said Eric Thomas, spokesman for the Innovation Alliance. “Our patent system has served America well, and now is not the time to create further uncertainties in our economy. We urge the Senate to take heed and seek a true consensus bill that will benefit all Americans – not just a few.”

Copies of all letters are available at www.innovationalliance.org.