Enhancing Patent Diversity for America’s Innovators (House Committee on Small Business)
The Committee on Small Business held a hearing titled, “Enhancing Patent Diversity for America’s Innovators,” at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The American economy is reliant on its ability to innovate and retain its status as a global leader. To continue the nation’s leadership in innovation, it’s important to ensure every person and idea has equal opportunity to intellectual property protections. The Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success (SUCCESS) Act, enacted last Congress, required the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director to consult with the Small Business Administration to identify publicly available data on the number of patents women, minorities, and veterans apply for and obtain. The hearing will examine the findings of the report and discuss the legislative options for increasing the ability and opportunity for a diverse population of innovators to gain patent protection.
