Another day. Another bill.

Just before departing for their summer recess on Thursday, Utah Republican Orrin Hatch and Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, who serve as chairmen of the U.S. Senate's intellectual-property panel, introduced a 45-page bill that proposes a number of changes to the way American patents are awarded and challenged.

News.com is reporting that "first-to-file", as opposed to "first-to-invent" which is the method used currently, would be one of shifts in patent policy in the United States.  Yes, this change would alleviate some of the burden on the U.S.

According to Wikipedia, Wikipedia, "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit" and "the largest reference website on the Internet", is "written collaboratively by people from all around the world".  For some reason, unlike a House of Representatives subcommittee, Wikipedia has had no problem defining the in vogue term Patent Troll.

If you are interested in knowing more about Patent Reform and don't mind watching a lecture via not-live video, then head on over to the phosita blog. Included in the post for the low, low, low price, which is yet to be determined, is the s

Days after settling their lawsuit with patent troll NTP, Research In Motion ran full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post and five other U.S. newspapers urging patent reform and thanking supporters.

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It is refreshing to read a fair and balanced article on the state of the patent system. Especially from a seemingly mainstream publication.

The system that has served so well for so long -- its basic concepts reside in the U.S. Constitution -- is hardly on the verge of collapse. But inefficiencies and abuses must be corrected if we expect another 225 successful years from U.S. patent law.

Maybe it will be possible to have an intelligent national conversation about what needs to be done to improve a patent system that is already one of the best in the world. This article also seeks to provide solutions to the situation the intellectual property community has found itself in so as to continue to encourage innovation in this country.