News

Patent Reform Bill Clears Senate, Heads to Obama

Law360
September 8, 2011

Related Professionals: McNeill, Rebecca M.

Media Mention

On September 8, 2011, the Senate gave final approval to H.R. 1249, the House version of legislation known as the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act without adding any amendments. When signed into law by President Obama, the bill will shift the U.S. to a first-to-file system, which is practiced by the rest of the world. Finnegan attorney Rebecca McNeill said the bill “makes significant and positive changes to the U.S. patent system.” Among those changes, Ms. McNeill added, is the addition of a system of post-grant review, which will provide an avenue for challenging competitors’ patents, and will partially ameliorate burdens associated with unwarranted inequitable conduct charges.