Senators Introduce Bills to Increase Patent Diversity, Transparency

Patent office satellite offices would have to conduct outreach to women, minorities, and other groups underrepresented in the patent system under a bill that seeks to improve diversity in the patent system.

The Unleashing American Innovators Act would also create a pilot program to help first-time inventors determine whether they have a patentable idea and lower application fees for small businesses, among other things. The bill was introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

“Expanding access to the patent system is not a partisan issue; it is an issue of maintaining American competitiveness and extending opportunity ...