Key Votes
HR 1249 - Patent Law Amendments - Key Vote
National Key Votes
Lamar Smith voted Yea (Passage) on this legislation.
Read recent statements Lamar Smith made in this general time period.
Stages
- Sept. 16, 2011 Executive Signed
- Sept. 8, 2011 Senate Bill Passed
- June 23, 2011 House Bill Passed
- March 30, 2011 Introduced
Family
Issues
Stage Details
Legislation - Signed (Executive) - Became Public Law No. 112-29 - Sept. 16, 2011
Legislation - Bill Passed (Senate) (89-9) - Sept. 8, 2011 (Key vote)
Title: Patent Law Amendments
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that amends patent law.
Highlights:
- Authorizes an individual to receive a patent for an invention unless the invention has already been patented or made available to the public prior to the filing date of the claimed patent, whereas under existing law an individual may not receive a patent for an invention if he or she is not the inventor (Sec. 3).
- Prohibits a patent from being issued for claims "directed to or encompassing a human organism" (Sec. 33).
- Prohibits a patent from being issued for "any strategy for reducing, avoiding, or deferring tax liability" (Sec. 14).
- Authorizes the Patent and Trademark Office to prioritize an examination of a patent application involving products, processes, or technologies that are "important to the national economy or national competitiveness" (Sec. 25).
- Establishes a Patent and Trademark Office Reserve Fund, into which fees collected by the Patent and Trademark Office are to be deposited for use by the office in covering the expenses it incurs in processing patent applications, trademark registrations, and other services (Sec. 22).
Legislation - Bill Passed (House) (304-117) - June 23, 2011 (Key vote)
Title: Patent Law Amendments
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that amends patent law.
Highlights:
- Authorizes an individual to receive a patent for an invention unless the invention has already been patented or made available to the public prior to the filing date of the claimed patent, whereas under existing law an individual may not receive a patent for an invention if he or she is not the inventor (Sec. 3).
- Prohibits a patent from being issued for claims "directed to or encompassing a human organism" (Sec. 33).
- Prohibits a patent from being issued for "any strategy for reducing, avoiding, or deferring tax liability" (Sec. 14).
- Authorizes the Patent and Trademark Office to prioritize an examination of a patent application involving products, processes, or technologies that are "important to the national economy or national competitiveness" (Sec. 25).
- Establishes a Patent and Trademark Office Reserve Fund, into which fees collected by the Patent and Trademark Office are to be deposited for use by the office in covering the expenses it incurs in processing patent applications, trademark registrations, and other services (Sec. 22).
Sponsors
Co-sponsors
- Steven J. 'Steve' Chabot (OH - R)
- John J. 'Jimmy' Duncan Jr. (TN - R)
- Elton W. Gallegly (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
- Robert W. 'Bob' Goodlatte (VA - R)
- Darrell Issa (CA - R)