Federal Alert—new legislation
Transcript of Federal Alert—new legislation
Foreign share of U.S. patents down from '88 peak Percent 501 I
45
40 W-
π i 0 I I I I I I 1 I I I I 1982 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92
Note: Figures for federal fiscal years ending Sept. 30. Source: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
available for 1992, but in calendar-year 1991, five of the top 10 pa tent-winning firms were Japanese: Toshiba (1), Mitsubishi (2), Hitachi (3), Canon (5), and Fuji (7). Four U.S. firms were on the list: Eastman Kodak (4), General Electric (6), IBM (8), and Motorola (10). The Dutch-owned Philips Corp. ranked ninth.
PTO figures for chemical patents may be following the same trend as patents in general—a continuous rise in the foreign share followed by a recent decline—but it is too early to be sure. The share of chemical patents granted foreigners rose steadily from 40% in 1978 to a peak of 50% in 1990. (These figures cover calendar years and utility patents only.) However, the foreign share dropped to 49% in calendar 1991. Data are not yet available for 1992.
As with patents overall, Japan was far in the lead in chemical patents, winning 21% in 1991. Germany (10%) was second, with the U.K. and France (4%) each) next. The top 10 companies in gaining chemical patents in 1991 were Bayer (477), Du Pont (463), Fuji (401), Ciba-Geigy (395), BASF (365), Eastman Kodak (332), Mobil Oil (302), General Electric (296), Dow Chemical (294), and Hoechst (265).
Michael K. Kirk, assistant PTO commissioner for external affairs, points to one factor in the rising U.S. share of patents issued: From 1971 to 1983, patent applications by U.S. inventors declined from 71,089 to 59,390. Since then, U.S. filings have rebounded, reaching 90,643 in 1990. The foreign share of applications thus has declined slightly, from 47% in 1987 to 45% in 1990.
Richard Seltzer
Federal Alert-new legislation This C&EN listing highlights legislation in the House and Senate between Jan. 5 and 21. Bills are listed under subject area by bill number, primary sponsor, and committee(s) to which they were referred.
• HOUSE Business. H.R. 241—Levin (D.-Mich.). Provides tax credit for investments in new manufacturing and other production equipment. Ways & Means.
H.R. 461—Hoagland (D.-Neb.). Allows accelerated depreciation for equipment used to manufacture advanced materials or to develop advanced technologies; imposes minimum tax on foreign and foreign-owned corporations operating in U.S. Ways & Means.
Education. H.R. 265—McCandless (R.Calif.). Directs that employer-provided educational assistance never be counted as part of employee's gross income. Ways & Means.
H.R. 396—Solomon (R.-N.Y.). Says scholarships and fellowships are not to be counted toward gross income, allows for deduction of interest paid on educational loans. Ways & Means.
Environment. H.R. 109—Boehlert (R.-N.Y.). Establishes Department of the Environment; provides for Bureau of Environmental Statistics and Presidential Commission on Improving Environmental Protection. Government Operations; Foreign Affairs.
H.R. 131—Collins (D.-Ill.). Requires EPA to regulate recycling and management of used oil, reduce emissions of lead into ambient air. Energy & Commerce.
H.R. 368—Snowe (R.-Me.). Requires that plastic containers introduced into interstate commerce bear marking that identifies type of resin used to produce container. Energy & Commerce.
Research. H.R. 70—Hoagland (D.-Neb.). Provides for termination of Superconducting Super Collider project. Science, Space & Technology.
H.R. 305—Porter (R.-Ill.). Establishes national policy for conservation of biological diversity, sets up research program on sustainable uses of biotic natural resources. Science, Space & Technology; Merchant Marine & Fisheries.
H.R. 437—Wyden (D.-Ore.). Directs NIH to establish research program on antiprogestin drugs. Energy & Commerce.
H.R. 441—Zimmer (R.-N.J.). Terminates space station Freedom program. Science, Space & Technology.
Superfund. H.R. 540—Smith (R.-N.J.). Provides that municipalities and individuals cannot be held liable under the act for generation or transportation oi municipal waste. Energy & Commerce.
H.R. 541—Smith (R.-N.J.). Establishes maximum limit of liability for municipalities or persons involved in generation or transportation oi municipal waste. Energy & Commerce.
Waste. H.R. 105—Applegate (D.Ohio). Allows states to regulate transport, disposal of solid waste within their territory. Energy & Commerce.
H.R. 395—Solomon (R.-N.Y.). Provides refundable income tax credit for recycling of hazardous wastes. Wavs & Means.
H.R. 495—dinger (R.-Pa.). Requires preparation, distribution of community information statements for new hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities. Energy & Commerce.
Work force. H.R. 467—Morella (R.-Md.). Establishes Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science & Engineering Workforce. Education & Labor.
• SENATE Competitiveness. S. 4—Hollings (D.-S.C.). Expands National Institute of Standards & Technology's advanced technology program, enhances agency's support of state-run manufacturing programs, increases NIST's number of manufacturing technology centers, and sets up three pilot programs designed to stimulate private investment in cutting-edge technology companies. Commerce, Science & Transportation.
Environment. S. 110—Moynihan (D.-N.Y.). Requires EPA Administrator to seek advice concerning environmental risks. Environment & Public Works.
S. 171—Glenn (D.-Ohio). Establishes Department of the Environment, Bureau of Environmental Statistics, and Presidential Commission on Improving Environmental Protection. Governmental Affairs.
Taxes. S. 65—Nickles (R.-Okla.). Imposes tariff on imported crude oil equal to difference between $25 and average international price of crude oil during preceding four weeks, sets tariff on imported petroleum products $3.00 higher than tariff calculated for imported crude oil. Finance.
FEBRUARY 22, 1993 C&EN 17