It is assumed that on April 27th, the advisory commission on patent law reform will adopt a recommendation that the U.S. patent system be changed from our 200-year old, successful, "First-to-Invent" established by our country's founding fathers - to a foreign "First-to-File" system, as a concession towards harmonizing the patent laws of the world.

On April 30th, a joint hearing of the House and Senate subcommittees will meet to introduce a bill to Congress recommending a change to "First-to-File"

These meetings, dominated by large corporations, lack appropriate representation by the small businesses and independent inventors which make up 99% of U.S. firms and which are responsible for 50% of U.S. innovation, which file 45% of all U.S. origin patents, employ 50-70% of the labor force, and contribute 30% of the GNP.

This means you need to ACT INSTANTLY to protest and let your voice be heard. If the house and senate chairmen receive enough response before the 30th, it could be prevented from becoming a bill. If it is approved and goes out of committee, it will be extremely expensive and time-consuming to defeat the bill.

Your constitutional rights are being infringed upon, and it is critical to voice your concern IMMEDIATELY and stand up. Communicate your concern at the highest levels in Washington right now.

1. INSTANT ACTION:
For instant impact, pick up the phone and send a mail-a-gram. The four key influential individuals in Washington D.C. will receive your message in the following day's mail. Call Western Union at 800 641-1818 and request hotline number #9233- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! These urgent communications demand to be immediately opened and read immediately.

This special non-profit service, established by Western Union so groups can reach decision makers fast, forcefully, and affordably - will take just a few minutes and cost only $15.75 for all FOUR messages, billed on your next month's telephone bill. (Mail-a-grams normally cost $17.95 EACH). That's inexpensive considering that passage of the "First-to-file" will cost thousands more for each patent, requiring multiple patents for each idea, thus making it financially impossible for most small businesses and independent inventors to participate in the invention process.

MESSAGE:

AGAINST "FIRST-TO-FILE" H.R. 4978. FOR "FIRST-TO-INVENT". FIRST-TO-TILE SYSTEM DE-STABILIZES SMALL BUSINESSES WHICH EQUATE TO: 99$ OF US FIRMS; EMPLOYING 50-70% LABOR FORCE; 50% INNOVATION; 45% OF U.S. ORIGIN PATENTS; 30% OF GNP.

This message will be received by the following key influential figures in Washington D.C.


#1. THE HONORABLE HARRY F. MANBECK, JR. U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Washington D.C. 20231

#2. THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. HUGHES
Chairman, Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration
House of Representatives
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515

#3. THE HONORABLE DENNIS DECONCINI
Chairman, Subcommittee of Patents, Trademarks
The Senate
SH-328 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510-0302

#4. THE HONORABLE BARBARA FRANKLIN
Secretary of Commerce
15th Street & Constitution Avenue
Washington D.C. 20230

For more impact, if possible, write a longer, personal letter addressed to each of the above officials in addition to the mail-a-gram, as well as a letter to your state's congressman. To find out who your state congressman is, call 202 224-3121 and you will be given your congressman's direct phone number.

2. CHAIN PROTEST TELEBLITZ:

Next, become a "tele-activist" by calling ten people you know and asking them to also send an instant Western Union mail-a-gram. Your 10 calls can quickly multiply to 100, then 1000, 10,000, 100,000 and so on. This is a positive way to use the chain letter/networking concept for a good cause, and was the successful approach used by our founding fathers.

3. KEEP INFORMED:

To receive updates, send a copy of your correspondence to Stephen Paul Gnass, P.O. Box 931881 Los Angeles, CA 90093. This will help us keep you informed with what's taking place, as well as verify the response.

Previous meetings have been taking place without proper notification to the public or individuals that would be most affected.

Now is the time to unite and validate that the American people will not sit back and allow our elected officials to blindly cutout the rights of America's most valuable but least recognized resource - the independent inventor. Through this grassroots program, we can let the voice of the inventor be heard loud and clear in Washington D.C. and stop the proposed "First-to-File" change.

For further information on the "First-to-Invent vs. First-to-File" issues and Harmonization, please call Invention Convention at 323 460-4408 and mention "First-to-invent or write to: P.O. Box 931881 Los Angeles, CA 90093. Please take action today.

YOUR VOICE COUNTS!
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