Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 01 NOVEMBER 2011

Sweeping Patent Law Reform Enacted: How Will This Change Patent Litigation?

Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Contributor
Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright is a full-service law firm with more than 550 lawyers, serving clients across the...

View firm profile
Explore more from Dickinson Wright PLLC

The America Invents Act (HR 1249) was enacted into law on Friday September 16, 2011, marking a significant change to U.S. patent laws.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Mikhail Murshak
Mikhail Murshak
Cecil Key
Cecil Key
Christopher Mitchell
Christopher Mitchell
Steven Parks
Steven Parks
Author LinkedIn connections

The America Invents Act (HR 1249) was enacted into law on Friday September 16, 2011, marking a significant change to U.S. patent law. The new laws will surely change our strategies for obtaining, protecting, and enforcing patent rights. Some changes take effect immediately, while others phase in at various times over the next several years. You should begin planning now for the upcoming changes and determine how this will alter the way you do business even though many important features are 12-18 months away.

Below is an overview of some of the more notable changes that will directly or indirectly influence patent litigation planning and strategy:

IMMEDIATE CHANGES (Effective September 16, 2011)

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

UMG v. DistroKid: When AI Becomes A Consumer Protection Issue

Universal Music Group's lawsuit against DistroKid raises a critical question about AI disclosure in consumer markets: when does the use of artificial intelligence become material information that must be disclosed to consumers? The case centers on allegations that DistroKid distributed mass-generated AI music while creating the impression it was created by legitimate human artists, potentially violating existing consumer protection laws even without specific AI disclosure requirements.
United StatesIntellectual Property
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Article

PTAB/USPTO Update - October 2026

The USPTO has released new templates and guidance for AIA trial proceedings, announced key appointments including a Chief AI Officer, and published updated procedures for patent applications and subject matter eligibility declarations. Director Squires delivered multiple addresses emphasizing the constitutional importance of intellectual property rights while the agency expanded its community engagement efforts and international collaboration through WIPO's Global IP Assignment Platform pilot program.
United StatesIntellectual Property
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

The Trademark Scam Field Guide: Look-Alike Filing Sites, Fake USPTO Notices, And How To Get Out If You’ve Been Caught

A business decides to file a trademark. Someone on the team searches for a familiar online legal-services brand, clicks the first result, and lands on a site with a similar-sounding name, a polished design, five-star reviews, and a low flat fee. The application gets filed. Months later the business learns the “service” was not who they thought it was, the filing was signed by someone with no authority to sign it, and the USPTO has suspended the application along with hundreds or thousands of others from the same shop.
United StatesIntellectual Property
Harness IP
Harness IP
Article

Is This Real? Navigating AI Impersonation Under New And Existing Laws

Is this AI-generated, or is it real? As generative AI tools have become increasingly capable of creating realistic images, videos, and audio, they have also made it easier to impersonate real people without their consent. In response, states are increasingly adopting laws that impose civil and criminal liability for certain AI-generated content that replicates an individual’s identity, likeness, voice, or other personal attributes.
United StatesIntellectual Property
Wiley Rein
Wiley Rein
Article

The Boss Is Watching. Now The Law Is Watching The Boss

California has established the first comprehensive regulations governing AI-powered employee monitoring, creating a new legal framework that extends from hiring through termination. As other states follow suit with their own monitoring restrictions, companies face a complex patchwork of requirements covering everything from bathroom surveillance to emotion detection, with significant enforcement mechanisms and liability risks attached to each jurisdiction's unique approach.
United StatesEmployment and HR
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The Hidden Immigration Risks Of Automatic Voter Registration

Foreign nationals visiting the DMV may unknowingly register to vote through automatic voter registration systems, creating serious immigration consequences years later during green card or citizenship applications. With expanded federal verification programs and stricter USCIS enforcement, employment-based immigrants and their families must understand how routine driver's license transactions can jeopardize their immigration status.
United StatesImmigration
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The FCC Reaches Deeper Into The Grid – And The Warehouse

The Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List under national security determinations, immediately barring new equipment authorizations and creating compliance deadlines for manufacturers. Companies must now evaluate whether their products qualify as domestic end products under Federal Acquisition Regulation standards or pursue conditional approval pathways by January 1, 2028.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The State Of AI Regulation In Healthcare: Still Complicated

As artificial intelligence tools become embedded in clinical care, diagnostics, and health insurance operations, healthcare organizations must navigate an evolving patchwork of federal oversight and state-specific AI regulations. With 21 states having enacted 33 healthcare-AI laws by the end of 2025 and 177 pending bills across 31 states in 2026, the regulatory landscape remains fragmented while federal agencies work to establish comprehensive standards. Understanding these overlapping requirements is criti
United StatesFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

DEA Guidance On Timely Applicants For Schedule III Medical Marijuana

The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued critical guidance affecting state medical marijuana licensees who applied for federal registration under Schedule III rescheduling. A recent Order to Show Cause signals DEA's intent to deny applications from dual-purpose licensees who serve both medical and adult-use customers, while new guidance restricts which entities can transact with registered applicants.
United StatesCriminal Law
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC