Pharma-backed Coalition spent $1.2M lobbying for patent reform
Lobbyist disclosures are beginning to shed light on the scope of the battle being fought behind the scenes on patent reform. Just last week we learned that Blackberry-maker RIM spent $890k lobbying Congress (mostly) on patent reform in 2007 (the sum also includes fees related to “regulatory rules to make more digital wireless handsets accessible to consumers with hearing disabilities”).
Now we’ve got a sense of the “defense” being mounted by those on the other side of the battle (which, interestingly enough, isn’t limited to just pharma and biotech companies). According to this CNN report, recently-filed lobbyist disclosures reveal that the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform “paid a lobbying firm nearly $1.2 million in 2007 to lobby on patent reform legislation.”
Some interesting details:
Of the $1.2M, more than 60% ($760k) was spent in the second half of 2007, the same time that the House bill (HR 1908) picked up a bit of steam
The Coalition’s lobbying firm is Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, which currently reports 77 attorneys in its intellectual property practice group.
About this entry
Title: “Pharma-backed Coalition spent $1.2M lobbying for patent reform”
- Published:
- 02.13.08 / 9am
- Author:
- J. Matthew Buchanan
- Category:
- Patent reform
- Comments:
- 2 Comments
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Promote the Progress is a growing portal of patent law information from around the globe.
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