The America Invents Act, the historic 2011 law that reforms the U.S. patent system, sees its second phase take effect this week, creating new rules in the complex world of patents that in-house counsel should not ignore. A third and final phase will be implemented in March of next year.
“This could be a real game-changer,” said Erika Arner, chair of the patent prosecution practice at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, discussing the second wave of patent reforms. “The provisions will create new ways to challenge patent applications and existing patents, and counsel will want to more closely monitor the patent landscape and their competitors.”
