Rep. Peters Votes Against "Misguided" Patent Reform Bill

Rep. Scott Peters said Thursday he voted against a "misguided" patent reform bill that he said would discourage innovation.

“Today’s legislation is far too broad in its scope and would have the unintended consequence of discouraging innovation – the lifeblood of San Diego’s economy," the Democrat from La Jolla said in a statement.

"We need reform that cuts down on ‘patent trolls’ while still leaving room for inventors like Qualcomm, San Diego’s largest private employer, to protect their patents with legitimate claims; unfortunately today’s bill has the potential to punish the very entities it was trying to help."

House bill 3309, the Innovation Act, passed 325-91 and now goes to the Senate. It was opposed by the University of California system, BIOCOM, Connect, Qualcomm, the National Small Business Association, the American Bar Association and several other organizations.

Peters' 52nd District includes Coronado, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Rancho Penasquitos, 4S Ranch, Rancho Bernardo and Poway, among other communities in San Diego.