Public Outcry: USPTO’s Proposal to Limit Patent Reviews Faces Backlash
The public has spoken, and it’s loud and clear: “USPTO, don’t shut the public out of patent review!” With over 4,000 comments backing EFF’s stance, it’s a patent-pending protest against stifling access to inter partes review. Even patent trolls are trembling!
Hot Take:
**_What’s next? A patent on the act of filing a patent? The USPTO is trying to turn patent challenges into a spectator sport, but the audience just isn’t buying tickets. With over 4,000 people telling them to knock it off, it’s safe to say the public doesn’t want its right to challenge bad patents to be patented away._**
Key Points:
– EFF and over 4,000 supporters opposed USPTO’s proposed rules limiting patent challenges.
– Inter partes review (IPR) is critical for rectifying poor patent grants, particularly for small businesses and open-source developers.
– A broad coalition, including open source communities and patient advocates, supports maintaining access to IPR.
– Critics argue that the proposed rules would suppress innovation and increase costs.
– The USPTO now faces reviewing thousands of comments, highlighting the public’s demand for a voice in patent review.