Innovation & intellectual property · 10/02/2012

USPTO Proposes Rule for Covered Business Method Patents

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is proposing a new rule to implement a provision of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which requires the USPTO to issue regulations for determining whether a patent is for a technological invention in a transitional post-grant review proceeding for covered business method patents. The provision will take effect on September 16, 2012, and will be repealed on September 16, 2020, with respect to any new petitions under the transitional program.