Innovation Alliance Statement on “Patent Fee Integrity Act”
WASHINGTON – Innovation Alliance Executive Director Brian Pomper today released the following statement in support of the “Patent Fee Integrity Act,” legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.):
“We applaud Senator Feinstein on the introduction of the Patent Fee Integrity Act. This legislation would ensure that all fees paid to USPTO, which is fully fee-funded and receives no taxpayer funds, remain at the agency and are used for their intended purpose. Over the last 20 years, more than $1 billion in fees paid by patent applicants have been diverted from their proper use at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This unwarranted diversion has resulted in more than 600,000 unexamined patent applications and an average patent pendency time of more than 28 months.
“In order to maintain America’s competitive edge internationally while spurring innovation and job creation here at home, reducing patent pendency is absolutely vital. Despite the fee diversion provisions included in the America Invents Act and in the corresponding CJS appropriations bill, the sequester has diverted approximately $140 million from USPTO in FY13, and promises to divert more money in the future. This bill would stop the tax on inventors by ensuring that inventors’ fees are used for their intended purpose.”
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