The Patent Office Is About to Make Bad Patents Untouchable
3 days ago
- #USPTO
- #innovation
- #patent-reform
- USPTO proposes new rules that would limit public challenges to improperly granted patents.
- The changes would benefit patent trolls by making it harder to invalidate bad patents.
- Public comments opposing the rules are due by December 2.
- Inter partes review (IPR) is a critical tool for challenging patents affordably.
- IPR has successfully invalidated problematic patents like the 'Podcasting Patent' and others.
- New rules would impose procedural barriers, making IPR less accessible.
- USPTO's proposal includes restrictions like waiving court defenses to file an IPR.
- Only Congress has the authority to rewrite the IPR system, not the USPTO.
- Public opposition previously stopped a similar proposal in 2023.
- EFF urges supporters to submit comments to protect the public's right to challenge bad patents.