Curbs on Patent Challenges Sought in Revived Bill (1)

Lawmakers are resurrecting legislation that would make it harder to challenge the validity of patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) announced July 8 that they will reintroduce the “STRONGER Patents Act.” The bill would make changes to proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the agency administrative law body that handles patent challenges.

The new bill will be largely similar to legislation introduced in the 115th Congress, with some changes, a Democratic aide said.

One new provision in the bill, which a House aide said July 8 hadn’t ...