[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 113-227
113th Congress

An Act


 
To establish the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United
States Patent and Trademark Office, and for other purposes. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. <>  USPTO LAW SCHOOL CLINIC
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--The Law School Clinic Certification Program of
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as implemented by the
Office, is established as a program entitled the ``Law School Clinic
Certification Program''. The Program shall allow students enrolled in a
participating law school's clinic to practice patent and trademark law
before the Office by drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent or
trademark applications, or both, on a pro-bono basis for clients that
qualify for assistance from the law school's
clinic. <>  The Director shall establish
regulations and procedures for application to and participation in the
Program. All law schools accredited by the American Bar Association are
eligible for participation in the Program, and shall be examined for
acceptance using identical criteria established by the
Director. <>  The Program shall be
in effect for the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act.

(b) Report on the Program.--The Director shall, not later than the
last day of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a report on the Program, describing the
number of law schools and law students participating in the Program, the
work done through the Program, the benefits of the Program, and any
recommendations of the Director for modifications to the Program.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the United States
Patent and Trademark Office.
(2) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Law School
Clinic Certification Program established in subsection (a).

[[Page 2115]]

(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Approved December 16, 2014.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 5108:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 113-588 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
Sept. 15, considered and passed House.
Dec. 4, considered and passed Senate.