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.

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.

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.

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:

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?

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).

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.

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

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

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