What happens in tech policy if Republicans take the Senate?

[Commentary] Technology policy is that rarest of things in American politics: a subject that isn't on its face partisan. Party lines are generally no more than a rough guide to how votes on tech issues will turn out. That said, if Republicans indeed -- as is looking increasingly likely -- win back the Senate come Election Day, that change in power would shake up the landscape in all sorts of interesting and non-obvious ways. When it comes to tech policy it may well be a lively 114th Congress.

• Patents: A Republican majority, say many observers, could mean near-instant movement on legislation aimed at so-called patent trolls who hold patents solely so they can sue potential infringers.
• Net Neutrality: A Republican Congress could move to invalidate any aggressive net neutrality rules the Federal Communications Commission passes.
• Copyright: Those who track the issue says that nothing much is likely to happen on copyright law in the next Congress -- no matter who controls the Senate.
• Surveillance and digital privacy: A Republican Congress could turn its gaze to Executive Order 1233. That tool empowers intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance at the direction of the President; though the order was first signed by President Ronald Reagan, Republicans might be eager to remove the power from Obama's hands.