House IP Sets Tuesday Hearing on Heartland Patent Venue Case's Effects

Three top patent law experts and Culver Franchising’s General Counsel Steven Anderson are to testify at a Tuesday House IP Subcommittee hearing on effects on patent law of the Supreme Court’s May ruling in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands, the House Judiciary Committee said Friday. Heartland limited eligible court venues for patent infringement lawsuits (see 1705220045). The ruling was seen as negating the need for a wider patent venue bill like the 2016 Venue Equity and Non-Uniformity Elimination Act, but could require a narrower bill to close any remaining loopholes (see 1705230050). Santa Clara University law professor Colleen Chien, George Mason University Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property Senior Scholar Adam Mossoff and Kellogg, Hansen patent lawyer John Thorne also will testify. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 2141 Rayburn. Heartland “was a major victory for the integrity of our patent system, but the fight against patent trolls cannot end here,” said House IP Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif.