News on Patent Law, Reform, and Legislation from AIPR



January 19 2012


American Innovators for Patent Reform has produced a new white paper, “What Innovators Need to Know – and Need to Do – under the America Invents Act” (PDF file). The development of the white paper was sponsored by General Patent Corporation.

Co-authored by patent attorney Carlos A. Fisher of Stout, Uxa, Buyan, & Mullins LLP, and patent attorney Timothy D. Casey and patent...

November 14 2011

The IPWatchdog blog reports that Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), a member of the Super Committee of Congress tasked with finding nearly $1.2 billion in revenue or savings, is proposing the creation of a revolving fund that would give the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office more control over its budget and fees.

Article excerpt: "Without predictable funding, the Congressionally mandated reforms of the AIA will likely turn out like the agency’s 'fast track'...

November 1 2011

In a Washington Post op-ed, Darin Gibby, a patent attorney with 18 years of experience, criticizes the America Invents Act (AIA) and offers a novel suggestion: Hit the reset button on patent reform and go back to the patent laws of 1836, when inventors were required to submit a prototype of their invention and the laws were much simpler since there was no obviousness requirement or doctrine of equivalents.

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September 21 2011

AIPR's Alec Schibanoff discussed the problems the America Invents Act will cause for inventors and businesspeople - and suggested ways to make the most of a difficult situation ("How to Navigate the New Patent Law", Entrepreneur.com, September 16, 2011).

Article excerpt:

"During [the grace] period, an inventor might decide to forgo getting a patent if he realized there was no market for the new invention or manufacturing was too cumbersome or expensive," says Alec Schibanoff, the executive...

August 24 2011

Congress is expected to pass the America Invents Act in September − much to the dismay of individual inventors, universities and small business owners across the country. Critics say the bill does nothing to actually help promote innovation, and might actually hinder it. How will the new law affect businesses and other entities that are already struggling in a sluggish economy?

An upcoming forum to be held in Washington, D.C. on August 29, 2011 − with a webcast on the day of the event − promises to address those issues. Sponsored by the local chapter of the IEEE and supported by the...

August 17 2011

The America Invents Act, if and when it becomes law, will impose some major changes on the patent system. AIPR's Alexander Poltorak and several other patent experts offered analysis of those changes - and advice about how to deal with them - in a recent Entrepreneur Magazine article posted on BusinessInsider.com ("How To Protect The Rights To Your Invention In The Wake Of Major Law Changes," Entrepreneur Magazine, August 2011).

"The America Invents Act does nothing to improve the...

June 24 2011

Inventors May Avoid Patents and Opt for Trade Secret Protection in Response, Advocacy Group Says

New York, N.Y. − June 24, 2011 − Passage by the House of Representatives of the so called "America Invents Act" (H.R. 1249) is a setback for inventors according to American Innovators for Patent Reform (AIPR), an advocacy group for inventors and other stakeholders opposed to the legislation.

"We are very concerned that the change to a first-to-file regime and post-grant opposition will stifle innovation in the U.S., and because the House version of the bill fails to...

June 23 2011

American Innovators for Patent Reform Calls on All Members and Supporters to Call Their Representatives

New York, N.Y. – June 23, 2011 - The Conyers - Sensenbrenner - Manzullo amendment to H.R. 1249 (a.k.a. the “America Invents Act”) that would have ended fee diversion and established full funding for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was excluded from the list of the amendments allowed for debate on the House floor. With the defeat of this amendment, American Innovators for Patent Reform (AIPR) urges all members and supporters to call their Representatives today...

June 21 2011

Amendment by Reps. Conyers, Sensenbrenner and Manzullo Will Establish Full Funding for U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

New York, N.Y. – June 21, 2011 – American Innovators for Patent Reform (AIPR) supports the Conyers/Sensenbrenner/Manzullo amendment to H.R. 1249 (the “America Invents Act”) currently before the House of Representatives. The amendment would end fee division and establish full funding for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enabling the agency to keep all fees it collects. AIPR urges all members of the House to vote in favor of the amendment when H...

June 13 2011

Radio host and Fox News commentator Glenn Beck weighs in on the America Invents Act.