The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 1249, The America Invents Act, on the Floor this week. There are a number of provisions in the bill that are important to manufacturers who leverage their intellectual property to help solidify their global leadership position in innovation and job growth.

The NAM and its member companies believe that the centerpiece of an effective intellectual property protection regime is an adequately staffed, efficiently operated, fully funded U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that processes patent and trademark applications in a high-quality and expeditious fashion.

The America Invents Act addresses a problem that has plagued the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for many years: inadequate resources to address the ever-increasing number of patent applications. The lack of resources to review applications has led to a significant backlog at the USPTO.  This has caused manufacturers who rely on innovative new ideas and processes to wait to bring their products to market.

The NAM signed a letter to House Leadership urging support for the section of the pending legislation that would end the diversion of user fees collected from patent applicants by the USTPO.  The provision would allow the USPTO to use these resources to invest in tools that would help eliminate the backlog of patent applications. The letter was signed by more than 150 companies, organizations, and universities. 

Visit the NAM Intellectual Property policy website for more information on this and other technology issues important to manufacturers.

Brian Raymond is the Director of Technology and Domestic Economic Policy at the NAM