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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Observations on the Covered Business Method Patent Review Program

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date March 20, 2018
Release Date March 20, 2018
Report No. GAO-18-451T
Summary:

Entities facing lawsuits for infringing on a certain type of patent can challenge the validity of the patent through a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office program. This can be done for a fraction of the time and money that would be spent in court.

Under the program, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board decides whether patents are valid. In the report on which this testimony is based, we recommended that the Patent Office develop guidance for reviewing its decisions.

The program is set to expire in September 2020, but stakeholders say it has reduced lawsuits and that aspects of the program should be included in other Patent Office programs.

 

Photo of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Photo of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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