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117-hr-5796117th CongressWALLET

Patents for Humanity Act of 2022

Sponsored By: Representative Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]

Became Law

Summary

Speeds patent review for humanitarian innovators. This law creates a recurring USPTO competition that awards certificates winners can redeem to accelerate specific patent matters for technologies addressing humanitarian problems.

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  • Organizations that submit a patent application for a humanitarian issue and meet the Director's requirements can compete for certificates they can use to speed USPTO processing. The competition runs at least every two years.
  • Winning certificates can accelerate one of these: an ex parte reexamination including one appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, a patent application including one appeal to that Board, an appeal to the Board of a claim twice rejected or finally rejected in reexamination, or another matter the Director names.
  • The Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office administers and promotes the competition, including through USPTO satellite offices. The awards are the successor to the Patents for Humanity pilot from 2012 and do not alter prior actions taken under that pilot.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster patent reviews for humanitarian work

The Patent and Trademark Office runs a contest at least every two years. Organizations with patents that address humanitarian problems can apply. Winners get one certificate to speed one patent matter: a patent application, an ex parte reexamination, or one appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The Director may also name other matters a certificate can speed and sets the application rules. The Office promotes the contest through satellite offices, and earlier actions under the 2012 program stay in place.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Spartz, Victoria [R-IN-5]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 11/1/2021

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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