GE To Put Its "Imagination at Work" For Patent Reform by Becoming Lead Sponsor of Community Patent Review

Professor Beth Noveck, Director of the Institute for Information Law & Policy at New York Law School and the Community Patent Review project, announced today that GE has become the newest lead sponsor of Community Patent Review, an effort to create an online system to connect experts to patent examiners. Q.Todd Dickinson, GE's Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel and the former Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), will serve on the project's Steering Committee.

With operations in more than 100 countries and over 300,000 employees worldwide, GE is the world's largest diversified technology, services and entertainment company, commanding a vast intellectual property portfolio.  The company is among the top companies in filing patent applications each year, ranking 12th in US patents in 2005 with close to 1% of all issued patents.  GE has already received 581 new patents this year.

"As Director of the USPTO, Todd Dickinson spearheaded the changes that led to the publication of patents and the opening up of patents to public comment," noted Professor Noveck.  We are honored to have someone, not only with Todd's experience but with his commitment to openness, on the Steering Committee.  I look forward to working together to make possible this next revolution in patent examination."

In assessing GE's commitment to the Community Patent Review project, Mr. Dickinson stated, "Technology is a vital engine for our economic growth, and it relies on the fuel of quality patents. The Community Patent Review initiative continues the work we initiated at USPTO to produce better quality patents by bringing more information into the patent examination process.  General Electric is committed to ensuring patent quality and believes the Community Patent Review project is one of the most important tools for excellence."