Proposed patent law changes could carry consequences.

The article presents information according to which sweeping patent reform is on the horizon, and Congress is moving quickly to consider a bill that will have far-reaching and potentially unintended consequences on existing patent laws in the U.S. Many of the proposed amendments seem destined to become law this year. However, some are sufficiently controversial and lack consensus, making enactment questionable. The problems of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office widely are believed to be threatening U.S. as a leader in the development of advanced technologies.