United States Patent and Trademark Office Launches America Invents Act Online Guide

On September 16, 2011, President Obama signed the America Invents Act (AIA) into law. The AIA makes numerous changes to U.S. patent laws that will be implemented in stages over the next 12 to 18 months. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has created   www.uspto.gov/AmericaInventsAct as an online guide dedicated to giving you the most current information on the agency’s implementation of the AIA and how the law effects patent examination, post-issuance matters, and USPTO fee and budgetary issues. The AIA website also provides the opportunity to submit comment on the AIA and the agency’s implementation of the law.

Message from Director David Kappos

On September 16, 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which will foster innovation and spur job creation in the United States.   This Act sets into motion the most comprehensive overhaul to our nation's patent system since 1836.

The new law will afford more certainty for patent applicants and owners, and provide the USPTO the resources needed to operate efficiently and issue high-quality patents.  Implementation of the new law will occur over a period of months, and our USPTO team will seek input and provide updates all along the way.  I strongly encourage you to use this site to regularly track progress pertaining to the agency’s implementation efforts.

All of us at USPTO look forward to working together with the innovation community to tackle the exciting challenges of rolling-out this historic law.