Grassley Eyes Patent, Surveillance Overhaul for Senate Judiciary

Patent and surveillance overhaul may come up in the months ahead for the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters at the National Press Club Monday. Grassley anticipates introducing patent overhaul legislation that’s “more comprehensive than just dealing with demand letters” in two to three weeks if not sooner, he said. “It will not be like the House bill.” The legislation will involve no presumption in fee shifting and will be “probably less strict on pleading and discovery,” he said. “Demand letters, it may be about the same.” But “you ought to know who’s suing you,” he said. Much is “in flux” when it comes to possible legislation to curb government phone surveillance, Grassley said. “I’m still talking to members of the Intelligence Committee.” He decided not to join House lawmakers, who originally planned to introduce a bill limiting surveillance authorities last week but did not. “Maybe they’re having second thoughts,” Grassley said, saying he’s still looking at a possible “compromise between Judiciary and Intelligence.”