Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017

To amend the Small Business Act to expand intellectual property education and training for small businesses, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017 2. Definitions In this Act— (1) the term Administrator (2) the term Director (3) the term SBA (4) the term small business concern 15 U.S.C. 632(a) (5) the term small business development center 15 U.S.C. 648 (6) the term USPTO 3. Findings Congress finds that— (1) the USPTO and the SBA are positioned to— (A) build upon several successful intellectual property and training programs aimed at small business concerns; and (B) increase the availability of and the participation in the programs described in subparagraph (A) across the United States; and (2) any education and training program administered by the USPTO and the SBA should be scalable so that the program is able to reach more small business concerns. 4. SBA and USPTO partnerships (a) In general Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Director, shall develop partnership agreements that— (1) provide for the— (A) development of high-quality training, including in-person or modular training sessions, for small business concerns relating to domestic and international protection of intellectual property; (B) leveraging of training materials already developed for the education of inventors and small business concerns; and (C) participation of a nongovernmental organization; and (2) provide training— (A) through electronic resources, including Internet-based webinars; and (B) at physical locations, including— (i) a small business development center; and (ii) the headquarters or a regional office of the USPTO. 5. Small Business Development Centers Section 21(c)(3) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648(c)(3) (1) in subparagraph (S), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (T), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (U) in conjunction with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, providing training— (i) to small business concerns relating to— (I) domestic and international intellectual property protections; and (II) how the protections described in subclause (I) should be considered in the business plans and growth strategies of the small business concerns; and (ii) that may be delivered— (I) in person; or (II) through a website. . March 19, 2018 Reported without amendment

Summary: Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017 (Sec. 4) This bill directs the Small Business Administration to develop partnership agreements that provide for: development of high-quality training for small businesses related to domestic and international protection of intellectual property, leveraging of training materials already developed for the education of inventors and small businesses, and participation of a nongovernmental organization. These agreements must also provide training: through electronic resources, including Internet-based webinars; and at physical locations, including a small business development center (SBDC) and the headquarters or a regional office of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (Sec. 5) The bill amends the Small Business Act to require services at an SBDC to include training, in person or through a website, relating to: domestic and international intellectual property protections, and how those protections should be considered in the business plans and growth strategies of small businesses.