October 23, 2007

The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader Senate Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators Reid and McConnell:

On behalf of the more than 430 undersigned organizations representing American innovation from all 50 states and the District of Columbia in fields including agriculture, alternative energy, biotechnology, chemicals, computer hardware, computer software, computer networking, cosmetics, entertainment, financial services, food/beverage, health care, heavy industry, life sciences, manufacturing, medical devices, material science, nanotechnology, optics, security, semiconductors, space systems, startup incubation, telecommunications, venture capital, and internet-based businesses, we are writing to raise continuing concerns regarding S. 1145, The Patent Reform Act of 2007.

While we welcome efforts to make improvements to the U.S. patent system, we must make clear our opposition to S. 1145 as approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill contains provisions that will create uncertainty and weaken the enforceability of validly issued patents. Some of the proposed reform provisions, such as an expanded apportionment of damages, an indefinite post-grant opposition process, excessive venue restrictions, burdensome and expensive mandatory search requirements, and unworkable interlocutory appeal provisions, pose serious negative consequences for continued innovation and American technological leadership in a competitive global economy. In addition, the bill codifies the current inequitable conduct doctrine rather than to make broadly supported reforms to eliminate litigation abuse of the doctrine and gain increases in patent quality.

No compelling case has been made for a bill written in this fashion. It is based on claims of a crisis in the current patent system that does not exist, supported by selective assertions which do not hold up under scrutiny. Importantly, the bill fails to take into account the impact of numerous court decisions and administrative rules that have occurred recently regarding major patent issues. We believe the authors of the legislation must make fundamental changes to the legislation if it is to work for all American innovators, and we urge you not to consider the bill on the Senate floor unless such changes are made.

We remain committed to strengthening the U.S. patent system in ways that will preserve and promote innovation across the broad spectrum of the American economy, and we look forward to working with you in this regard.

Thank you for considering our views in this crucial matter. 430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 2

National Organizations

Advanced Medical Technology Association NanoBusiness Alliance (AdvaMed) Skokie, IL Washington, DC National Association of Patent Practitioners American Intellectual Property Law (NAPP) Association Washington, DC Arlington, VA Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers American Seed Trade Association of America (PhRMA) Alexandria, VA Washington, DC

Biotechnology Industry Organization United States Business & Industry Council Washington, DC Washington, DC.

Biomass Coordinating Council Washington, DC

The Center for Small Business and the Environment Washington, DC

CropLife America Washington, DC

Financial Services Industry Intellectual Property Law Association New York, NY

Grocery Manufacturers Association Washington, DC

Innovation Alliance Washington, DC

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)-USA Washington, DC

Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) Washington, DC

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 3

State and Individual Organizations

Abaca Technology Corporation ALD NanoSolutions, Inc. San Jose, CA Broomfield, CO

Abbott Align Technology, Inc. Abbott Park, IL Santa Clara, CA

Abbiotec, L.L.C. ALIO Industries San Diego, CA Wheat Ridge, CO

Accelerated Technologies, Inc. , Inc. Hackensack, NJ Irvine, CA

Acclarent, Inc. Alliance Pharmaceutical Corporation Menlo Park, CA San Diego, CA

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. Almyra, Inc. Hawthorne, NY Boxborough, MA

Adams Capital Management, Inc. Cambridge, MA Cambridge, MA

Adroit Medical Systems, Inc. Altea Therapeutics Corporation Loudon, TN Atlanta, GA

Advanced Diamond Technologies AmberWave Systems Corporation Romeoville, IL Salem, NH

Advanced Dynamics, Inc American Solar, Inc. Lexington, KY Annandale, VA

Advanced Life Sciences Woodridge, IL San Diego, CA

Advanced Medical Optics Andcor Companies, Inc. Santa Ana, CA Wayzata, MN

Aegis BioSciences, LLC AngioDynamics, Inc. Spokane, WA Queensbury, NY

Aero-Marine Company Applied Medical Port Townsend, WA Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Applied Nanotech, Inc. Allentown, PA Austin, TX 430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 4

Applied NanoWorks, Inc. AviaraDx, Inc. Rensselaer, NY Carlsbad, CA

Apollo Biosciences, Inc. Avid Biotics Burlington, VT South San Francisco, CA

ArborGen, LLC Aware, Inc. Summerville, SC Bedford, MA

Arizona BioIndustry Association Axiom Medical Inc Phoenix, AZ Torrance , CA

Arrowhead Research BASF Corporation Pasadena, CA Florham Park, NJ

ARYx Therapeutics Inc. Fremont, CA Deerfield, IL

Ascenta Therapeutics, Inc. BayBio San Diego, CA South San Francisco, CA

Asthmatx, Inc. Corporation Mountain View, CA Washington, DC

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Bayhill Therapeutics Wilmington, DE Palto Alto, CA

AtCor Medical Holdings Beckman Coulter, Inc. Lisle, IL Fullerton, CA

ATFI Bi-Level Technologies, Evanston, IL San Diego, CA

Authorizer Technologies Binary Graphics Palm Beach, FL Seattle, WA

Autocraft Industries, Inc. BioCardia, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK South San Francisco, CA

Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. BIOCOM Germantown, MD San Diego, CA

AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. BioFlorida Needham, MA West Palm Beach, FL

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 5

Biogen Idec, Inc. California Healthcare Institute Cambridge, MA La Jolla, CA

Bio Idaho Canesta, Inc. Boise, ID Sunnyvale, CA

Biomed Solutions, LLC Canopy Ventures New York, NY Lindon, UT

BioMedical Strategies, L.L.C. Carbide Derivative Technologies San Diego, CA Chicago, IL

BioNJ Inc. Carbon Nanoprobes Trenton, NJ Seattle, WA

BioOhio CardioMEMS, Inc. Columbus, OH Atlanta, GA

BioVascular, Inc. Cargill Incorporated San Diego, CA Wayzata, MN

BioVerdant, Inc. Caterpillar Inc. San Diego, CA Peoria, IL

Biznik Celgene Corporation Seattle, WA Summit, NJ

Black Rock Systems LLC Cell Genesys, Inc. Reno, NV South San Francisco, CA

Boston Scientific Corporation Center 7, Inc. Natick, MA Lindon, UT

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Center for Innovation New York, NY Grand Forks, North Dakota

BSST Inc. , Inc. Irwindale, CA Frazer, PA

Buck Institute for Age Research Charlesson, LLC Novato, CA Oklahoma City, OK

Burnham Institute for Medical Research The Chatham Group La Jolla, CA Los Altos, CA

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 6

CIMA Nanotech Crux Biomedical St. Paul, MN Portola Valley, CA

Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products Cryptography Research Cincinnati, OH San Francisco, CA

Coca-Cola Company Crystal Clear Technologies, Inc. Atlanta, GA Portland, OR

CogniTek Management Systems, Inc. Northfield, IL Lexington, MA

Colorado BioScience Association Cummins-Allison Corporation Denver, CO Mt. Prospect, IL

Colorado Photonics Industry Association Cummins Inc. Denver, CO Columbus, IN

CombinatoRx, Incorporated CURE, The Center of Connecticut's Cambridge, MA BioScience Cluster New Haven, CT Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. San Diego, CA CVRx, Inc Maple Grove, MN Concentric Medical Mountain View, CA CyberHeart Incorporated Menlo Park, CA Conceptus Inc. Mountain View, CA Dako Colorado Fort Collins, CO CONNECT San Diego, CA Dais Analytic Corporation Odessa, FL Conserval Systems Inc Buffalo, NY Dartmouth Regional Technology Ctr, Inc. Lebanon, NH Contained Energy, Inc. Shaker Heights, OH Deaton Engineering, Inc. Georgetown, TX Coronis Medical Ventures Sunnyvale, CA Deep Nines, Inc. Dallas, TX Corning Incorporated Corning, NY DEKA Research & Development Corp. Manchester, NH

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 7

Delsys Inc. Eikos Boston, MA Franklin, MA

Demegen, Inc. Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , PA South San Francisco, CA

DexCom, Inc. ElectroCell Technologies, Inc. San Diego, CA Colchester, Vermont

Digimarc Corporation Eleme Medical Beaverton, OR Merrimack, NH

Digirad Corporation Poway, CA Indianapolis, IN

DirectPointe EMD Serono Lindon, UT Rockland, MA

DocuTemp, Inc. Emphasys Medical, Inc. Bedford, MA Redwood City, CA

Dune Sciences, LLC Enterprise Partners Venture Capital Eugene, OR La Jolla, CA

DuPont Epicept Corporation Wilmington, DE Tarrytown, NY

Dynatronics Esperance Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT Baton Rouge, LA

Eagle Manufacturing Company Estee Lauder Wellsburg, WV New York, NY

Ecologic Leasing Solutions, LLC Exclara, Inc. Great Falls, VA Santa Clara, CA

ECR Technologies, Inc. ExploraMed Development LLC Lakeland, FL Mountain View, CA

Edwards Lifesciences Fallbrook Engineering, Inc. Irvine, CA San Diego, CA

EFI (Electronics for Imaging) Fallbrook Technologies Inc. Foster City, CA San Diego, CA

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 8

FarSounder, Inc. Global Online Solutions Network, Inc. Warwick, RI Greer, SC

Firefly Energy Inc. Glumetrics, Inc. Peoria, IL Irvine, CA

Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Gow & Partners Aurora, CO Houston, TX

FivePrime Therapeutics Hale BioPharma Ventures, LLC San Francisco, CA Encinitas, CA

Footnote.com Hawaii Science & Technology Council Lindon, UT Honolulu, HI

Gambro Blood Component Technologies HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (BCT) Bridgewater, NJ Lakewood, CO Helius, Inc. Genomic Health, Inc. Lindon, UT Redwood City, CA Hematech, Inc. Gen-Probe Incorporated Sioux Falls, SD San Diego, CA Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. GenVault Corporation Nutley, NJ Carlsbad, CA HowZone Genzyme Seattle, WA Cambridge, MA Human Genome Sciences, Inc. GenVec, Inc. Rockville, MD Gaithersburg, MD iBIO Georgia Bio Chicago, IL Atlanta, GA ICTV, Inc. Glacier Cross Inc. Los Gatos, CA Kalispell MT Ice Energy, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Fort Collins, CO Philadelphia, PA Research Triangle Park, NC Immersion Corporation San Jose, CA Glenview State Bank Glenview, IL 430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 9

Indiana Health Industry Forum (IHIF) Johnson & Johnson Indianapolis, IN New Brunswick, NJ

Inframat Corp. KansasBio Farmington, CT Lenexa, KS

Innovative NeuroTechnologies, Inc. Kennon Covers Irvine, CA Sheridan, WY

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Kentucky Seed Capital Fund Durham, NC Louisville, KY

InterDigital, Inc. Kinamed Inc. King of Prussia, PA Camarillo, CA

Intermolecular, Inc. Kosan Biosciences San Jose, CA Hayward, CA

Intermune, Inc. La Jolla Networks, Inc. Brisbane, CA Solana Beach, CA

International Stem Cell Corporation Lankenau Institute for Medical Research Oceanside, CA Wynnewood, PA

Invitrogen Corporation Lauder Partners, LLC Carlsbad, CA Atherton, CA

Iowa Biotechnology Association Life Science Alley Des Moines, IA Saint Louis Park, MN

IP Checkups LifeTrees, LLC Berkeley, CA Oklahoma City, OK iRhythm technologies, Inc. LipoSonix, Inc. San Francisco, CA Bothell, WA

Irwin Research & Development LITMUS, LLC Yakima, WA Little Rock, AR

ISTA Pharmaceuticals The Livingston Group of Companies Irvine, CA New York, NY

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Louisiana Ventures, LP Palo Alto, CA Bossier City, LA

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 10

LSI Corporation Metabolex Milpitas, CA Hayward, CA

Lux Capital Management MGI Pharma, Inc. New York, NY Bloomington, MN

Luxul Corporation MichBio Salt Lake City, UT Ann Arbor, MI

MagSense Life Sciences Micromet, Inc. West Lafayette, IN Carlsbad, CA

Mardx Diagnostics Inc. Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. Carlsbad, CA Cambridge, MA

Marketcore, Inc. Milliken & Company Westport, CT Spartanburg, SC

Masimo Corporation Minnow Medical, Inc. Irvine, CA San Diego, CA

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council Mississippi Seedsmen's Association Cambridge, MA Leland, MS

Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Biotechnology Association Council (MassMEDIC) Jefferson City, MO Waltham, MA Mobilygen, Inc. MaxCyte, Inc. Santa Clara, CA Gaithersburg, MD Monogram Biosciences Maxygen, Inc. South San Francisco, CA Redwood City, CA Company MayaTech International, Inc. St. Louis, MO Silver Spring, MD Montana BioScience Alliance MedImmune Billings, MT Gaithersburg, MD Mountain View Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology Menlo Park, CA Hayward, CA Mova Merck San Francisco, CA Whitehouse Station, NJ

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 11

Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Nanostellar San Diego, CA Redwood City, CA

MultiCell Technologies, Inc. Nanosys, Inc. San Diego, CA Palo Alto, CA

MyPort Technologies, Inc. Nanotope McKinney, TX Skokie, IL

NanoBioMagnetics, Inc. NanoViricides, Inc. Edmond, OK West Haven, CT

Nano Terra Nantero Cambridge, MA Woburn, MA

Nanochemonics Holdings, LLC NEI Corp. Pulaski, VA Somerset, NJ

Nanocomp Technologies Inc. Nektar Therapeutics Concord, NH San Carlos, CA

Nanofilm Neoconix, Inc. Valley View, OH Sunnyvale, CA

Nanogen, Inc. NeoTract, Inc. San Diego, CA Pleasanton, CA

NanoInk Neuronetics, Inc. Skokie, IL Malvern, PA

NanoIntegris Neuro Resource Group, Inc. Skokie, IL Plano, TX

NanoMech, LLC New England Innovation Alliance Fayetteville, AR Boston, MA

Nanomix New Hampshire Biotechnology Council Emeryville, CA Portsmouth, NH

NanoPore Inc. New Mexico Biotechnology and Biomedical Albuquerque, NM Association Albuquerque, NM NanoProducts Corporation Longmont, CO NexBio, Inc. San Diego, CA

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 12

North Carolina Biosciences Organization OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Durham, NC Melville, NY

North Dakota State University Othera Pharmaceuticals Fargo, ND Exton, PA

Northrop Grumman Corporation Pacific Health Research Institute Los Angeles, CA Honolulu, HI

Novartis Corporation Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. New York, NY Gaithersburg, MD

Novelthink ParkerVision Palo Alto, CA Jacksonville, FL

Novocell, Inc. PatentCafe San Diego, CA Yuba City, CA

Novo Nordisk Pathfinder Therapeutics, Inc. Princeton, NJ Nashville, TN

NovaRx Corporation Pelegrin Partners, LLC San Diego, CA Wayzata, MN

NovoStent Corporation Pennsylvania Bio San Diego, CA Malvern, PA

NuVasive, Inc. PepsiCo San Diego, CA Purchase, NY

Nuvelo, Inc. Peptimmune, Inc. San Carlos, CA Cambridge, MA

Oculus Development, LLC Personal Remedies, LLC Chicago, Illinois Georgetown, MA

Oncomed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Redwood City, CA New York, NY

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Pharmexa-Epimmune, Inc. Emeryville, CA San Diego, CA

OpenCel Phillips Services Industries, Inc. Glencoe, IL Livonia, MI

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 13

PhiloMetron Inc. Promptu Systems Corporation San Diego, CA Menlo Park, CA

Phycal, LLC Propel Software Shaker Heights, OH San Jose, CA

PicoCal Proprius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ann Arbor, MI San Diego, CA

Pindi Products, Inc. ProteoPure, Inc. Reno, NV Pittsburgh, PA

PointeCast Corporation Protochips, Inc. Lindon, UT Raleigh, NC

Polestar Capital Associates ProvenProcess Medical Devices, Inc. New York, NY Mansfield, MA

Polyera QUALCOMM Inc. Skokie, IL San Diego, CA

Power Innovations International QuantumSphere, Inc. Lindon, UT Santa Ana, CA

PowerMetal Inc. QuesTek Innovations LLC Carlsbad, CA Evanston, IL

Preformed Line Products Rayspan Corporation Mayfield Village, OH San Diego, CA

Presidio Pharmaceuticals R*BAT, Inc. San Francisco, CA St. Francisville, LA

Prism Technologies LLC RCIG, Inc. Omaha, NE Oak Ridge, TN

Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. Rearden W. Kingston, RI San Francisco, CA

Progeny Advanced Genetics, Inc. Reference Diagnostics, Inc. Salinas, CA Bedford, MA

Progressive GaitWays, LLC RescueTime Telluride, CO Seattle, WA

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 14

Research Corporation Technologies Scout Diagnostics, LLC Tucson, AZ Lexington, KY

Restech (Respiratory Technology The Scripps Research Institute Corporation) La Jolla, CA San Diego, CA Seattle Medical Technologies, Inc. Retractable Technologies Redwood City, CA Little Elm, TX SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reXorce Thermionics, Inc. San Diego, CA Akron, OH SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. Rigel Pharmaceuticals New York, NY South San Francisco, CA SilverSky Group LLC Rochester Medical Corporation Reno, NV Rochester, MN Slingshot LLC Rothschild-Landry Holding, Inc. San Diego, CA St. Francisville, LA Smart Bomb Interactive Sagamore Bioventures Salt Lake City, UT San Francisco, CA Smile Reminder , Inc. Lindon, UT Morrisville, NC SoftRay, Inc. Saltamar Innovations Laramie, WY South Portland, ME Solena Group, Inc. Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. Washington, DC Richmond, CA Solera Networks Santarus, Inc. Lindon, UT San Diego, CA Somanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Satiety, Inc. Irvine, CA Palo Alto, CA Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. S&C Electric Company San Diego, CA Chicago, IL South Dakota Biotech Association Science and Technology Corporation at the Sioux Falls, SD University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 15

Southern California Biomedical Council Technology, Patents, Licensing, Inc. Los Angeles, CA Doylestown, PA

Southern Seed Association Tenex Greenhouse Ventures, L.L.C. Leland, MS San Diego, CA

Spiration, Inc. Tennessee Biotechnology Association Redmond, WA Nashville, TN

SSI Technologies Terra Moya Aqua, Inc. Edmond, OK Cheyenne, WY

State of New Hampshire Department of Tessera Technologies, Inc. Resources and Economic Development San Jose, CA Concord, NH Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute The Stella Group, Ltd. Austin, TX Arlington, VA TextCaster SterlingTech Software Kansas City, MO Rochelle Park, NJ Therapeutics, Inc. Supracor, Inc. Phoenix, AZ San Jose, CA Theregen, Inc. SuturTek Incorporated San Francisco, CA North Chelmsford, MA TheraTogs, Inc. Symphony Capital LLC Telluride, CO New York, NY Three Arch Partners Symyx Technologies, Inc. Porto Valley, CA Santa Clara, CA Time Domain Corporation Syngenta Seeds, Inc. Huntsville, AL Golden Valley, MN TorreyPines Therapeutics, Inc. Synthetic Genomics, Inc. La Jolla, CA San Diego, CA TriLogic Pharma LLC. Targeted Genetics Corporation Tallassee, AL Seattle, WA Trilogy Software, Inc. Technology Innovations, LLC Austin, TX New York, NY

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 16

Unidym Corp. Vical Incorporated Menlo Park, CA San Diego, CA

University of Kentucky Virent Energy Systems, Inc. Lexington, KY Madison, WI

University of New Hampshire Virginia Biotechnology Association Durham, NH Richmond, VA

University of Wyoming Vistec Semiconductor Systems, Inc. Laramie, WY Freemont, CA

USGI Medical Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical San Clemente, CA Association Seattle, WA US Nanocorp, Inc. Farmington, CT The Wax Company Amory, MS Vaccine Research Insititute of San Diego San Diego, CA Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company Vaccinex, Inc. Casper, WY Rochester, NY Wisconsin Biotechnology and Medical Varix Medical Corporation Device Association Sunnyvale, CA Madison, WI

VasoNova, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA Madison, NJ

Venture Ad Astra Wyoming Silicon, LLC Anchorage, AK Sheridan, WY

Venture Development Associates, LLC Xerion Materials Corp. Norman OK Broomfield, CO

Verenium Corporation XetaComp Nanotechnology LLC San Diego, CA Lawton, OK

Vertec Polymers, Inc. Zacharon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Houston, TX San Diego, CA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Zogenix, Inc. Cambridge, MA San Diego, CA

430+ Orgs / 50 State Letter re S.1145, Oct. 23, 2007, p. 17

ZymoGenetics, Inc. Seattle, WA