PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Bills and resolutions

Courts: modify prohibition on recognition by U.S. courts of certain rights relating to certain marks, trade names, or commercial names (see S. 756), S1792 [12MR] (see H.R. 1683), H2679 [12MR]

Federal agencies and departments: require appropriation of funds to use a fee, fine, penalty, or proceeds received from a settlement (see S. 1456), S2815 [14MY]

Patents: prevent double patenting (see H.R. 3199), H4431 [11JN]

——— provide that a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity as a defense in certain actions before the Patent and Trademark Office (see S. 440), S1275 [12FE]

——— require voluntary collection of demographic information for patent applications (see S. 2281), S5107 [25JY] (see H.R. 4075), H7467 [25JY]

——— strengthen patent system and combat abuse (see S. 2082), S4773 [10JY] (see H.R. 3666), H5583 [10JY]

——— subject entities on Dept. of Commerce banned Entity List to heightened pleading standards, additional transparency requirements, and other restrictions relative to sale or license of patents (see S. 2178), S4948 [18JY]

Patents for Humanity Program: allow acceleration certificates awarded under the Program to be transferable (see S. 2814), S6475 [7NO]

SBA: improve commercialization activities in Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (see S. 2127), S4856 [16JY] (see H.R. 3839), H7150 [18JY]

Trademarks: clarify that licensing of a mark for use by a related company does not establish an employment relationship between the owner of the mark and that related company or its employees (see S. 2439), S5311 [1AU] (see H.R. 4164), H7492 [6AU]

Remarks in House

Science, Depts. of Justice and Commerce, and related agencies: making appropriations, H184 [3JA], H1151, H1152 [23JA]

Remarks in Senate

Patents: provide that a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity as a defense in certain actions before the Patent and Trademark Office (S. 440), S4753 [10JY]

——— require voluntary collection of demographic information for patent applications (S. 2281), S5110 [25JY]

Reports filed

Preserving Access to Cost Effective Drugs (PACED) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 440), S4676 [28JN]