Critics of RICO have argued that the triple damages provision unfairly encourages people to turn what would be ordinary contract and other business disputes into racketeering cases.

The damages provision is likely to be at the center of legislative wrangling over the Patent Reform Act, but it is hardly the only significant change to the patent system under consideration.

The suit, filed by Christy Brzonkala, was the first to be brought under the law's civil damages provision, and has been watched closely on its journey through the courts.

In addition, he challenges the Copyright Act's statutory damages provision's applicability to his conduct.

While he agreed that this was demonstrated by the treble damages provision, "[its] importance ... does not compel the conclusion that it may not be sought outside an American court."

Mr. Fay, who with Mr. Perles drafted the damages provision passed by Congress, said the law's vagueness was intentional "because we wanted to have the widest interpretation possible."

That court also held that when the statutory language is ambiguous, the "sovereign immunity canon" requires a court to construe the damages provision in favor of the Government.

Congress should eliminate these damages provisions before passing the broader Amtrak bill of which they are a part.

The decision invalidated the law's civil damages provision, which permitted suits in federal court by victims of crimes "motivated by gender."

Examples of statutes with mandatory treble damages provisions are the Clayton Antitrust Act and RICO.