URGENT ALERT!

EAGLE FORUM CAPITOL ALERT -- May 22, 1999

Action Urgently Needed to Save U.S. Patent Rights

The people who would destroy the U.S. Patent system by changing it to please the Japanese and the multinationals are trying to ram through Congress what they call the "American Inventors Protection Act of 1999." It ought to be called the "American Inventors Destruction Act." It is sponsored by Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC). This bill was voted out of the Intellectual Property Subcommittee on May 20. There is no bill number yet because the text changes hourly. Rep. Coble is trying to avoid debate on the bill and is planning to have it voted out of the full Judiciary Committee on May 26.

We oppose this bill for the same reasons we opposed the Ominous Patent Bill last year -- it would be a sellout of the rights of American inventors. Refer to our previous articles for full information, including the statement of the 25 Nobel Laureates who are adamantly opposed to this bill. (See www.eagleforum.org/patent)

Regardless of changes, this bill would reduce the property rights of inventors. One of our most precious constitutional rights is the "exclusive" right of inventors to their inventions for a limited number of years. The Japanese and the multinationals have been trying for years to restrict or reduce that right.

American technology is what has made us the world's leader. Foreigners and those who preach the "global economy," instead of American rights, want to diminish these rights. This bill was originally drafted by Clinton's friend Ron Brown and the Japanese Ambassador.

The whole future of the United States, our national security and our prosperous economy, are at stake in this bill. This is more important than the thefts from our nuclear labs. We can't continue to be a great military power if our patent system is given away to our enemies.

Call, fax, email, visit your Representative in the District office and ask him to vote NO on Coble's Patent bill. It's not "reform" -- it's a sellout.

House E-mail: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Member Web Sites: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html

CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121

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