Senate IP Leaders ‘Optimistic’ for Patent Eligibility Changes

Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) plan to use their positions atop the Senate’s Intellectual Property Subcommittee—and their strong working relationship—to push legislation to settle the tricky and persistent question of what inventions should qualify for patent protection.

Even with the partisan divide between the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic Senate and White House, “this is an area where I actually think it’s possible for us to make progress between the House and the Senate,” said Coons, who this year succeeded the retired Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) as chair of the panel. “And I’m optimistic that this will ...