Consumers Curbs Unscrupulous Invention Promoters Invention promoters are preying on consumers through television and magazine advertising and making millions of dollars without providing any useful services. H.R.1907 requires standardized disclosures and quarterly reports to clients and imposes criminal penalties. The bill creates a defense for early users of some process while insulating the patent from lawsuits by early users. H.R.1907 requires publication of many applications and gives inventors a provisional royalty right upon publication.
Reexamination is far less expensive than lawsuits.
Under H.R.1907 requesters can file written comments and appeal to the PTO administrative board, but must choose between reexamination and lawsuits. A reexamination cannot be instituted before a patent is granted. The bill retains the PTO in the Commerce Department with oversight by Congress, but improves the structure by giving the PTO more authority in management and administrative matters and creating public advisory committees on patents and trademarks.