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How Patent
Reform Can Help your Small Business |
|
 The America Invents Act,
H.R. 1249 (Also known as the Leahy-Smith America Invent Act)
The patent process can be a long, complicated
and expensive process. Many, who contemplate starting a new
business with their own inventions are deterred by the
process. It takes an average of over two years to get an
application through the patent office. |
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In an attempt to make the patent process
quicker and less expensive congress passed the American
Invents Act. The aim of the bill is to reduce litigation by
improving patent exams. The measure allow patents to be
granted to the first inventors to file, rather than
requiring inventors to show they were the first to develop
an innovation. This would bring the U.S. patent process in
line with that of many other countries. |
| The bill
also lets the Patent and Trademark office to set their own
fees and keep the money they earn so that they can hire
personnel and make technical upgrades to make the process
more efficient. |
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The bill was
introduced by Republican Congressman Lamar Smith
(co-sponsored by Democrat Patrick Leahy) and passed both
houses with overwhelming majorities. Those who opposed
it claimed that it would give an advantage to deep-pocketed
companies over individual inventors. |
| The bill is
awaiting the President’s signature to become law. |
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Source:
To see full text of the bill that
will go into law:
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| By
Owen Daniels |