The TPL Group Calls for Grassroots Level Support to Stop Passage of The Patent Reform Act

Business Wire, March 3, 2008

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Dan Leckrone, founder and chairman of the TPL Group, denounced the proposed Patent "Reform" Act pending for vote in the U.S. Senate as legislation that will subvert the process of innovation and investment in the United States. In an op-ed titled "Proposed Patent Law Will Cripple U.S. Innovation" published in Thursday's San Jose Mercury News, Leckrone called for action at the grassroots level inviting concerned citizens to voice their opposition to the bill to their elected officials. The bill is likely to come up for vote in the Senate by early April.

Leckrone has long been a champion of innovation, representing inventors and entrepreneurs and protecting their right to enjoy the fruits of their inventions. In his Op-Ed Leckrone cites large hi-tech companies like Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and IBM for pushing the bill as "they no longer need to rely on patents for competitive advantage - instead they rely on their dominant market power and don't want innovators getting in their way."

If the bill is passed as such by the Senate, Leckrone points out that the balance of power will tilt towards large corporations leaving inventors and start-up companies vulnerable to face a barrage of litigations and increasing costs to get patents for their inventions. The cycle of innovation, investment and growth will be adversely affected at a time the country needs an economic stimulus.

From the chief judge of patent appeals court to the department of commerce to businesses and universities, opposition to the bill is growing across the country. "But it is not enough. Senators need to hear the voice of the people. We need every concerned citizen to contact his or her Senator and urge them to stop the passage of this bill," said Leckrone.

To see the full text of the Op-Ed, visit www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_8389671.> About The TPL Group

Founded in 1988, Technology Properties Limited (The TPL Group) has emerged as a global coalition of high technology enterprises involved in the development, management and commercialization of Intellectual Property (IP) assets as well as the design, manufacture and sales of proprietary products based on these same IP assets. Among the advanced products that The TPL Group enterprises continue to develop and bring to market are multicore microprocessors as well as other system-on-chip solutions for distributed digital media processing applications. For more information, visit www.tplgroup.net.