Innovators take patent bill battle to Senate

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Executives and lobbyists from some of America's richest and most influential companies are walking the halls of Congress, buttonholing senators to argue for strong patents to preserve U.S. innovation.

But they disagree on how to accomplish that goal.

High-tech firms like Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Cisco say they need patent legislation that reduces their vulnerability to a growing number of infringement suits.

While seed and herbicide giant Monsanto, pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and smaller tech firms say the bill weakens patents and threatens American competitiveness.

After the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of a patent overhaul bill on September 7, the battle has moved to the Senate where the measure could come up within weeks.

Both patent camps say they can win.

"If you brought this bill before the Senate tomorrow, I think it would pass," said Steve Elmendorf, lobbyist for the pro-tech Coalition for Patent Fairness.

A coalition opposing the bill disagrees, saying there are 33 undecided senators -- enough to put the bill's future in doubt.