Patent Law: An Introduction and Issues for Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Aug. 15, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF12744 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Kevin J. Hickey |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Patents, a form of intellectual property, give their owners
certain exclusive rights in new and useful inventions. To
encourage innovation, the Constitution gives Congress the
power to grant patents to inventors for a limited time.
Patents have been a part of federal law ever since Congress
enacted the first Patent Act in 1790.
Patents play a critical role in many industries, such as
pharmaceuticals and computer technologies. The U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) estimated in a 2022
study that utility patent-intensive industries contributed
$4.4 trillion to the U.S. GDP and directly employed
18.2 million people in 2019. In light of patents’ effect on
innovation and technological competitiveness, Congress
often considers amendments to patent law. This In Focus
provides an overview of patent law and highlights potential
areas of congressional interest. (For more detail, see CRS
Report R46525, Patent Law: A Handbook for Congress.)
