Patent Reform Becomes Law

摘要

President Obama recently signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the Act) into law, representing the most comprehensive change to the U.S. patent system in nearly 60 years. The Act significantly transitions the United States from a "first-to-invent" to a "first-inventor-to-file" system and establishes expanded post-grant review procedures. The Act gives the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) increased ability to set fees it collects from applicants, as well as a mechanism to access these collected fees.