I think even clearer would be: "... easier for patents to pass the nonobviousness tests". That is, they're making it harder for examiners to reject patents as

I think even clearer would be: "... easier for patents to pass the nonobviousness tests". That is, they're making it harder for examiners to reject patents as obvious. Contrary to the blogger, I think the obviousness bar is still much too low, and that this is, in fact, the biggest problem with the patent system. Now they're making the problem worse. I find this very dismaying.