Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022

To amend the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act to address satellite offices of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2021 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Director The term Director (2) Office The term Office (3) Patent pro bono programs The term patent pro bono programs 35 U.S.C. 2 (4) Southeast region of the United States The term southeast region of the United States 3. Satellite offices (a) Amendments to purpose and required considerations Section 23 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 1 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking increase outreach activities to (ii) by inserting after Office , including by increasing outreach activities, including to individual innovators, small businesses, veterans, and any other demographic group or category of innovators that the Director may determine, after notice in the Federal Register, to be underrepresented in patent filings (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) enhance patent examiner and administrative patent judge retention, including patent examiners and administrative patent judges from economically, geographically, and demographically diverse backgrounds; ; and (2) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (F) with respect to each office established after January 1, 2021, shall consider the proximity of the office to anchor institutions (such as hospitals primarily serving veterans and institutions of higher education) and populations that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings, including rural populations. . (b) Southeast regional office (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a satellite office of the Office in the southeast region of the United States. (2) Considerations When establishing the office required under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider the following: (A) The number of patent-intensive industries located near the selection site. (B) How many research-intensive institutions, including institutions of higher education, are located near the selection site. (C) The State and local government legal and business frameworks that support intellectual property-intensive industries located near the selection site. (c) Study on additional satellite offices Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall complete a study to determine whether additional satellite offices of the Office are necessary to— (1) achieve the purposes described in section 23(b) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 1 (2) increase participation in the patent system by women, people of color, veterans, individual inventors, or members of any other demographic, geographic, or economic group that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings. 4. Community Outreach Offices (a) Establishment (1) In general Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish not fewer than 2 community outreach offices in each region of the United States that, as of that date of enactment, is served by— (A) a satellite office of the Office; or (B) the principal office of the Office. (2) Restriction No community outreach office established under paragraph (1) may be located in the same State as— (A) the principal office of the Office; or (B) any satellite office of the Office. (3) Requirement for Northern New England region (A) In general The Director shall establish not less than 1 community outreach office under this subsection in the northern New England region, which shall serve the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. (B) Considerations In determining the location for the office required to be established under subparagraph (A), the Director shall give preference to a location in which— (i) as of the date of enactment of this Act— (I) there is located not less than 1 public institution of higher education and not less than 1 private institution of higher education; and (II) there are located not more than 15 registered patent attorneys, according to data from the Office of Enrollment and Discipline of the Office; and (ii) according to data from the 2012 Survey of Business Owners conducted by the Bureau of the Census, less than 45 percent of the firms are owned by women, minorities, or veterans. (b) Purposes The purposes of the community outreach offices established under subsection (a) are to— (1) further achieve the purposes described in section 23(b)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 1 (2) partner with local community organizations, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and businesses to create community-based programs that— (A) provide education regarding the patent system; and (B) promote the career benefits of innovation and entrepreneurship; and (3) educate prospective inventors, including veterans, individual inventors, and individuals from demographic, geographic, or economic groups that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings, about all public and private resources available to potential patent applicants, including the patent pro bono programs. (c) Subordinate to satellite offices The community outreach offices established under this section shall be subordinate, and report directly, to the principal office of the Office or the satellite office of the Office that corresponds to the region in which that community outreach office is located, as applicable. 5. Updates to the patent pro bono program (a) Study and updates (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall— (A) complete a study of the patent pro bono programs; and (B) submit the results of the study required under subparagraph (A) to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (2) Scope of the study The study required under paragraph (1)(A) shall— (A) assess— (i) whether the patent pro bono programs, as in effect on the date on which the study is commenced, are sufficiently serving veterans, individual inventors, and members of demographic, geographic, and economic groups that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings; (ii) whether the patent pro bono programs are sufficiently funded to serve prospective participants; (iii) whether the participation requirements of the patent pro bono programs, including the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the patent system, serve as a deterrent for prospective participants; (iv) the degree to which prospective inventors are aware of the patent pro bono programs; (v) the degree to which the length of prosecution time for pro bono applicants serves as a deterrent for attorneys to participate in the patent pro bono programs; and (vi) any other issue the Director determines appropriate; and (B) make recommendations for such administrative and legislative action as may be appropriate. (b) Use of results Upon completion of the study required under subsection (a), the Director shall work with the Patent Pro Bono Advisory Council, existing regional programs, and intellectual property law associations across the United States to update the patent pro bono programs in response to the findings of the study. (c) Expansion of income eligibility The Director shall work with and support existing (as of the date of enactment of this Act) regional programs and intellectual property law associations across the United States to expand eligibility for the patent pro bono programs to an individual living in a household, the gross household income of which is not more than 400 percent of the Federal poverty line. 6. Pre-prosecution patentability assessment pilot program (a) Pilot program Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a pilot program to assist first-time prospective patent applicants in assessing the viability of a potential patent application submitted by such a prospective applicant. (b) Considerations In developing the pilot program required under subsection (a), the Director shall establish— (1) a notification process to notify a prospective patent applicant seeking an assessment described in that subsection that any assessment so provided may not be considered an official ruling of patentability from the Office; (2) conditions to determine eligibility for the pilot program, taking into consideration available resources; (3) reasonable limitations on the amount of time to be spent providing assistance to each individual first-time prospective patent applicant; and (4) procedures for referring prospective patent applicants to legal counsel, including through the patent pro bono programs. 7. Fee reduction for small and micro entities (a) Title 35 Section 41(h) of title 35, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking 50 percent 75 percent or more, at the discretion of the Director, (2) in paragraph (3), by striking 75 percent 90 percent or more, at the discretion of the Director, (b) Leahy-Smith America Invents Act Section 10(b) of the Leahy Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 41 75 percent 90 percent or more, at the discretion of the Director, 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Director The term Director (2) Office The term Office (3) Patent pro bono programs The term patent pro bono programs 35 U.S.C. 2 (4) Southeast region of the United States The term southeast region of the United States 3. Satellite offices (a) Amendments to purpose and required considerations Section 23 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 1 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking increase outreach activities to (ii) by inserting after Office , including by increasing outreach activities, including to individual inventors, small businesses, veterans, low-income populations, students, rural populations, and any geographic group of innovators that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) enhance patent examiner and administrative patent judge retention, including patent examiners and administrative patent judges from economically, geographically, and demographically diverse backgrounds; ; and (2) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (F) with respect to each office established after January 1, 2023, shall consider the proximity of the office to anchor institutions (such as hospitals primarily serving veterans and institutions of higher education), individual inventors, small businesses, veterans, low-income populations, students, rural populations, and any geographic group of innovators that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings. . (b) Southeast regional office (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a satellite office of the Office in the southeast region of the United States. (2) Considerations When selecting a site for the office required under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider the following: (A) The number of patent-intensive industries located near the site. (B) How many research-intensive institutions, including institutions of higher education, are located near the site. (C) The State and local government legal and business frameworks that support intellectual property-intensive industries located near the site. (c) Study on additional satellite offices Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall complete a study to determine whether additional satellite offices of the Office are necessary to— (1) achieve the purposes described in section 23(b) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 1 (2) increase participation in the patent system by individual inventors, small businesses, veterans, low-income populations, students, rural populations, and any geographic group of innovators that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings. 4. Community Outreach Offices (a) Establishment (1) In general Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish not fewer than 4 community outreach offices throughout the United States. (2) Restriction No community outreach office established under paragraph (1) may be located in the same State as— (A) the principal office of the Office; or (B) any satellite office of the Office. (3) Requirement for Northern New England region (A) In general The Director shall establish not less than 1 community outreach office under this subsection in the northern New England region, which shall serve the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. (B) Considerations In determining the location for the office required to be established under subparagraph (A), the Director shall give preference to a location in which— (i) as of the date of enactment of this Act— (I) there is located not less than 1 public institution of higher education and not less than 1 private institution of higher education; and (II) there are located not more than 15 registered patent attorneys, according to data from the Office of Enrollment and Discipline of the Office; and (ii) according to data from the 2012 Survey of Business Owners conducted by the Bureau of the Census, less than 45 percent of the firms (as that term is defined for the purposes of that Survey) are owned by women, minorities, or veterans. (b) Purposes The purposes of the community outreach offices established under subsection (a) are to— (1) further achieve the purposes described in section 23(b)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 1 (2) partner with local community organizations, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and businesses to create community-based programs that— (A) provide education regarding the patent system; and (B) promote the career benefits of innovation and entrepreneurship; and (3) educate prospective inventors, including individual inventors, small businesses, veterans, low-income populations, students, rural populations, and any geographic group of innovators that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings, about all public and private resources available to potential patent applicants, including the patent pro bono programs. 5. Updates to the patent pro bono programs (a) Study and updates (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall— (A) complete a study of the patent pro bono programs; and (B) submit the results of the study required under subparagraph (A) to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (2) Scope of the study The study required under paragraph (1)(A) shall— (A) assess— (i) whether the patent pro bono programs, as in effect on the date on which the study is commenced, are sufficiently serving prospective and existing participants; (ii) whether the patent pro bono programs are sufficiently funded to serve prospective participants; (iii) whether any participation requirement of the patent pro bono programs, including any requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the patent system, serves as a deterrent for prospective participants; (iv) the degree to which prospective inventors are aware of the patent pro bono programs; (v) what factors, if any, deter attorneys from participating in the patent pro bono programs; (vi) whether the patent pro bono programs would be improved by expanding those programs to include non-attorney advocates; and (vii) any other issue the Director determines appropriate; and (B) make recommendations for such administrative and legislative action as may be appropriate. (b) Use of results Upon completion of the study required under subsection (a), the Director shall work with the Pro Bono Advisory Council, the operators of the patent pro bono programs, and intellectual property law associations across the United States to update the patent pro bono programs in response to the findings of the study. (c) Expansion of income eligibility (1) In general The Director shall work with and support, including by providing financial support to, existing patent pro bono programs and intellectual property law associations across the United States to expand eligibility for the patent pro bono programs to an individual living in a household, the gross household income of which is not more than 400 percent of the Federal poverty line. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to prevent a patent pro bono program from electing to establish a higher eligibility level, as compared to the level described in that paragraph. 6. Pre-prosecution assessment pilot program (a) Pilot program Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a pilot program to assist first-time prospective patent applicants in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a potential patent application submitted by such a prospective applicant. (b) Considerations In developing the pilot program required under subsection (a), the Director shall establish— (1) a notification process to notify a prospective patent applicant seeking an assessment described in that subsection that any assessment so provided may not be considered an official ruling of patentability from the Office; (2) conditions to determine eligibility for the pilot program, taking into consideration available resources; (3) reasonable limitations on the amount of time to be spent providing assistance to each individual first-time prospective patent applicant; (4) procedures for referring prospective patent applicants to legal counsel, including through the patent pro bono programs; and (5) procedures to protect the confidentiality of the information disclosed by prospective patent applicants. 7. Fee reduction for small and micro entities (a) Title 35 Section 41(h) of title 35, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking 50 percent 60 percent (2) in paragraph (3), by striking 75 percent 80 percent (b) False certifications Title 35, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 41, by adding at the end the following: (j) Penalty for false assertions In addition to any other penalty available under law, an entity that is found to have falsely asserted entitlement to a fee reduction under this section shall be subject to a fine, to be determined by the Director, the amount of which shall be not less than 3 times the amount that the entity failed to pay as a result of the false assertion, whether the Director discovers the false assertion before or after the date on which a patent has been issued. ; and (2) in section 123, by adding at the end the following: (f) Penalty for false certifications In addition to any other penalty available under law, an entity that is found to have falsely made a certification under this section shall be subject to a fine, to be determined by the Director, the amount of which shall be not less than 3 times the amount that the entity failed to pay as a result of the false certification, whether the Director discovers the false certification before or after the date on which a patent has been issued. . (c) Leahy-Smith America Invents Act Section 10(b) of the Leahy Smith America Invents Act ( 35 U.S.C. 41 (1) by striking 50 percent 60 percent (2) by striking 75 percent 80 percent (d) Study on fees (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall— (A) complete a study of the fees charged by the Office; and (B) submit the results of the study required under subparagraph (A) to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. (2) Scope of study The study required under paragraph (1)(A) shall— (A) assess whether— (i) fees for small and micro entities are inhibiting the filing of patent applications by those entities; (ii) fees for examination should approximately match the costs of examination and what incentives are created by using maintenance fees to cover the costs of examination; and (iii) the results of the assessments performed under clauses (i) and (ii) counsel in favor of changes to the fee structure of the Office, such as— (I) raising standard application and examination fees; (II) reducing standard maintenance fees; and (III) reducing the fees for small and micro entities as a percentage of standard application fees; and (B) make recommendations for such administrative and legislative action as may be appropriate. December 1, 2022 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022 This bill modifies the responsibilities of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) satellite offices and addresses related issues. The bill increases the discount on patent-related fees for small and micro entities. An entity that falsely claims such a discount shall be subject to a fine, in addition to any other existing penalties. The bill also modifies the statutory purpose of PTO satellite offices to include (1) outreach activities targeting certain groups, such as low-income populations, veterans, and geographic groups that are underrepresented in patent filings; and (2) targeting patent examiners and administrative patent judges from economically, geographically, and demographically diverse backgrounds in the PTO's retention activities. For each satellite office established after January 1, 2023, the PTO must consider the office's proximity to anchor institutions (e.g., hospitals primarily serving veterans and institutions of higher education) and certain groups, such as low-income populations, veterans, and geographic groups that are underrepresented in patent filings. The PTO must establish (1) a satellite office in the southeastern United States within three years of this bill's enactment, (2) at least four community outreach offices throughout the United States within five years of this bill's enactment, and (3) a pilot program to help prospective first-time patent applicants assess the strengths and weaknesses of a potential patent application. The PTO must also (1) conduct and report to Congress a study on patent pro bono programs, including whether such programs are sufficiently serving prospective and existing participants; and (2) use the study's findings to update such pro bono programs.