Lamar Smith: “The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or AIA, was signed into law on September 16, 2011. It was the first major patent…”

“The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or AIA, was signed into law on September 16, 2011. It was the first major patent reform bill in over 60 years and the most substantial reform of U.S. patent law since the 1836 Patent Act. The Leahy-Smith AIA reestablishes the United States patent system as the global standard. Over the past year, the Patent Office has worked diligently to implement the provisions of the Leahy-Smith AIA in order to ensure that the bill realizes its full potential to promote innovation and create jobs. The bill that we consider today includes several technical corrections and improvements that ensure that the implementation of the bill can proceed efficiently and effectively. The bill is supported by all sectors of our economy from all across the United States, including manufacturers, universities, technology, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and innovators. As the provisions of the Leahy-Smith AIA continue to take effect, our Nation's innovation infrastructure becomes much stronger, unleashing the full potential of American innovators and job creators, so I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or ``AIA,'' was signed into law on September 16, 2011. It was the first major patent reform bill in over 60 years and the most substantial reform of U.S. patent law since the 1836 Patent Act.…”