FTC to Hold Public Hearings on IP

The Federal Trade Commission will hold a series of public hearings beginning on December 5 "to explore the evolving market for intellectual property." The FTC conducted a series of 24 hearings in 2002-03, leading up to its October, 2003 Report, "To Promote Innovation: The Proper Balance of Competition and Patent Law and Policy." The Notice for the new series of hearings states that there have been a number of changes in the patent system in the ensuing 5 years, specifically changes brought about by Supreme Court and Federal Circuit decisions and changes in business models and practices. The hearings will examine the impact of these changes on the patent system.

Public comments relating to topics identified in the Notice of Public Hearings are invited, with a submission deadline of February 5, 2009. The Notice, a copy of which is attached, poses nine questions on which comments are invited. Further details regarding the December 5 hearing in contained in the attached posting on the FTC website.

FTC%20Hearing%20Notice.pdf