URL: http://www.ftc.gov/opp/intellect/index.htm

Large numbers of law suits on patent-invalidity in the USA 
proves tend to increasing exhaustion of patentable features 
in many technological fields:
 

 THE PROPER BALANCE OF COMPETITION 
AND PATENT LAW AND POLICY. A Report 
by the Federal Trade Commission October 2003
 

The report / full lenght (315 pages): pdf 
http://www.sensortime.com/innovationrpt.pdf

The summary of the report: pdf
http://www.sensortime.com/innovationrptsummary.pdf

The summary of the report: HTML
http://www.sensortime.com/ftc_report2.html

Some statements and articles: 
Timothy J. Muris (FTC)
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/10/cpreport.htm

US Federal Trade Commission Report Calls
for Patent Law and Policy Reform
http://xml.coverpages.org/ni2003-11-11-a.html

SERIOUS THOUGHTS ON PATENTS AND PATENTABILITY
http://www.sensortime.com/serious_thoughts.html