United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1993-10-07 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-GGD-94-11 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-11 P0b002ee1803717e7 f:tgg94011 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-11 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-11 T-GGD-94-11 Patent law License agreements Foreign patents International cooperation International trade Foreign trade agreements International relations Treaties Foreign governments Copyrights Japan Europe WIPO Patent Harmonization Treaty Testimony GGD This testimony focuses on patent law harmonization, which seeks to bridge some of the basic difference between the U.S. patent system and those of other countries. The United States, for example, is the only developed nation awarding patents to the first inventor regardless of when the patent application is filed. Moreover, U.S. patent applications are kept secret until a patent is granted. In contrast, most developed countries award patents to the first inventor to file an application and publish all patent applications after they are filed. GAO's remarks are based primarily on the results of a 1992 survey of U.S. companies regarding their patent experiences in Japan, Europe, and the United States and their views on patent harmonization. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-11/html/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-11.htm GAO/T-GGD-94-11 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-94-11 Testimony GAO/T-GGD-94-11; Intellectual Property Rights: U.S. Companies' Views on Patent Law Harmonization; Patent law License agreements Foreign patents International cooperation International trade Foreign trade agreements International relations Treaties Foreign governments Copyrights Japan Europe WIPO Patent Harmonization Treaty