The Senate Judiciary Committee is “close to an...

in a statement Tuesday. The committee is supposed to examine S-1720 as part of its executive business meeting Thursday. Leahy’s statement followed an Internet Association webcast Tuesday in which Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he’s “hopeful” the committee might mark up S-1720 as early as next week. The committee appears to be “really, really close to a bipartisan agreement that could pass the Senate,” Schumer said. The committee first discussed ongoing negotiations on the bill last week (CD March 28 p12). Schumer has been a proponent of including an expansion of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s covered business method patent review program, but said Tuesday his main goal “is to get a good bill done. I'm not wedded to any one way to do it.” Leahy cautioned that he’s hopeful the committee can mark up S-1720 Thursday, but the compromise that will take the form of a manager’s amendment “will be significant so we may need additional time for drafting and for members to review it. If we cannot report the bill this Thursday, we will reconvene the mark up on Tuesday morning.” Earlier Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said he was concerned Congress would “do more harm than good” to the U.S. patent system by rushing to pass legislation aimed at curbing abusive patent litigation. Massie was one of 91 House members who voted against the House-passed Innovation Act (HR-3309) back in December. That bill was “rushed through,” with House leaders only allowing four hours to file amendments to the bill before the vote, he said.