Innovation & intellectual property · 14/02/2013

US Patent System to Switch to 'First Inventor to File' System Under Leahy-Smith America Invents Act

The US Patent and Trademark Office is implementing changes to the patent laws, as mandated by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, to convert the US patent system from a 'first to invent' system to a 'first inventor to file' system, effective immediately, and will revise the rules of practice in patent cases to address examination issues raised by the changes.