On January 14, 2013, President Obama signed H.R. 6621, which makes a number of technical corrections to the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), into law following its passage by 112th Congress just before the end of its just-concluded session.
The AIA, which President Obama signed on September 16, 2011, constitutes the most significant reform of U.S. patent law in the past 60 years. The first of the two phases of reforms, include new inter partes and post-grant review proceedings, “virtual” patent marking and limitations on false marking suits, and third-party submissions, are in place. The final phase, including the transition from a “first to invent” to a “first inventor to file” system, become effective on March 16, 2013.
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