The U.S. patent system will see significant changes in the next few years. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) have proposed a variety of reforms
intended to improve the quality of patents and promote innovation. Legislation to implement specific reforms,
including establishment of a U.S. Patent Opposition system, has been introduced in Congress. This section
provides information related to patent reform as well as links to other sites of interest.
Recent Updates
Patent and Trademark Office Rule Changes Still Awaiting Final Decisions (October 2006) 
Senators Orrin Hatch and Patrick Leahy
introduce "Patent Reform Act of 2006 (Senate Bill 3818)" (August 2006)
Text of SB 3818
The "Patents Depend on Quality Act of 2006" or "PDQ Act" (H.R. 5096) introduced on April 5, 2006 is
the most recent of the legislative patent reform proposals. The changes contemplated in this bill are
somewhat more modest than those of other recent proposals (April 2006).
Text of H.R. 5096 .
Comment.
"Proposed U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Rule Changes Regarding the Limitation of Continuation Practice and Claims for Initial Examination" (March 2006)
"Coalition Draft" of revised H.R. 2795, showing revisions under consideration (September 2005)
Summary of Provisions of original H.R. 2795 (June 2005)
Text of original "Patent Reform Act of 2005 (HR 2795)" as introduced in the House of Representatives on June 8, 2005
Previous Townsend Patent Reform updates
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