Courtesy Associated Press
Today, President Obama fulfilled his promise to sign the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, passed by the U.S. Senate on September 8, 2011, and the House of Representatives on June 23, 2011. Thus, effective on September 26, 2011, the first effect of the law will be felt: a 15-percent surcharge will be added to all USPTO patent filing and maintenance fees!
As I mentioned before, the full effects of the new law (and the soon-to-come implementing regulations) won’t be known for some time. Will it reduce the USPTO’s backlog, decrease pendency and improve the quality of issued patents!? Stay tuned for these answers, as well as more analysis.
