WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- Pharmaceutical and technology giants are arguing opposite points as the U.S. Congress plans to revamp the U.S. patent system for the first time since the 1950s.
The drug industry seeks to retain or strengthen protections for its patents, while the high-tech industry wants to increase flexibility for its fast-moving companies, The Washington Post reported.
The tech industry points to a February federal jury verdict that ordered Microsoft Corp. to pay $1.52 billion to Alcatel-Lucent for infringing MP3 patents to play digital music.
They say that even if Microsoft was wrong, the massive damages reflect fundamental flaws in how judgments are calculated, the Post reported.
Drug companies point to a Purdue Pharma LP case involving its OxyContin painkiller. Federal courts ruled Purdue could not enforce its patent against a generic drugmaker because Purdue had misled patent examiners but later reversed the decision.
In the interim, generic drugmakers entered the market, Purdue lost half its OxyContin sales and laid off half its employees, the drug industry said.
House and Senate lawmakers were to unveil patent-reform bills Wednesday.
