Monday, August 31, 2009

Patent reform and political realism

On June 19, 2007, IPBiz presented text of Ted Kennedy on patent reform:

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said today [June 18] that the biotech and traditional high tech industries need to come to agreement about how patent laws should be updated rather than pursue conflicting agendas through Congress.

He said the two sectors should work it out themselves -- otherwise, "it comes down to who has more lobbyists."


On August 30, 2009, one had Sen. Hatch saying:

“Kennedy could bring together all of the base groups of the Democratic Party,” Hatch said on ABC’s “This Week,” recalling that Kennedy worked on health legislation for more than three decades. “In every case, he fought as hard as he could, but when he recognized that he couldn’t get everything he wanted, he worked with the other side. If he was here, I don’t think we’d be in the mess we’re in right now.”

One notes we have a mess in both "reform" areas: health care AND patents.

See also

http://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2007/06/kennedy-on-patent-reform-it-comes-down.html

John Gray on Kennedy

Ted Kennedy must have skipped that page in the politician’s handbook that says — before you take a position on anything you will put a poll in the field to gage public support. If, and only if, 60 percent of the people are in favor of “said issue” will you open your mouth. Otherwise stay quiet and hang out at the yacht club with a gaggle of sycophants.

AND

Mike Barnicle the celebrated and scolded columnist told a wonderful story about the time Ted Kennedy reached out to him in his darkest hour. Barnicle was caught up in a plagiarism scandal and not only was his mistake plastered on the cover of the New York Times but he had TV crews camped out on his front lawn in Hyannis.

After spending the entire day locked up inside his house in shame Barnicle heard a knock on the back screen door. It was Teddy telling Mike to collect his family and come down to the Kennedy compound across town. The senator said, “We Kennedy’s know how to hide out,” and smiled that broad Irish smile breaking the tension.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home