Unions pounce on patent reform

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_8784779

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Business Writer
Article Last Updated: 04/02/2008 02:30:19 PM MDT

WASHINGTON—The battle over patent reform, a sleepy sounding subject that affects new, cheaper medicines, Chinese counterfeits and BlackBerry addicts, has always sent high-tech companies and drugmakers to their respective corners.

But now organized labor is getting in the fight, using its lobbying muscle to stop—or at least shape—proposed changes to patent law.

Spurred by concern about overseas piracy of U.S. goods, unions have stepped up their opposition to patent reform legislation pending in the Senate. The AFL-CIO and the Change to Win coalition, a group of seven unions that includes the Teamsters, argued in separate letters recently that proposed reforms to the patent system would make it easier for competitors in China and India to counterfeit U.S. products and send more U.S jobs overseas.

Labor's opposition puts Senate Democrats who support the measure in a tight spot. Patent reform is a top priority for another Democratic constituency: high-tech companies such as Hewlett-Packard Co. and Cisco Systems Inc.

The patent bill, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, would make the first significant changes to the U.S. patent system in more than 55 years. It has deeply split the business community and ignited intense lobbying.

Computer and Internet companies gave $1.3 million, 57 percent of their total federal contributions, to Democratic candidates in 2007-2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Their contributions are dwarfed by organized labor, which has given more than $24 million in the same period, 90 percent to Democratic candidates.

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