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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1908 (110th)

Patent Reform Act of 2007

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

18 April 2007

Last action

11 September 2007 · Calendars

Status

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 348.

Sponsors

Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6], Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Rep. Cannon, Chris [R-UT-3], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL-5], Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18], Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2], Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-14], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8], Rep. Sali, Bill [R-ID-1], Rep. Hooley, Darlene [D-OR-5], Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA-1], Rep. Bachus, Spencer [R-AL-6]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

10 January 2026

Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Patent Reform Act of 2007 - Modifies conditions under which a patent may be obtained for an invention or discovery, including by: (1) defining "inventor" to include a joint inventor and coinventor; (2) making the effective filing date of a claimed invention the filing date of the patent or the patent application; and (3) revising procedures for patent interference disputes. Revises requirements for an inventor's oath or declaration to allow substitute statements in specified circumstances (e.g., death or disability) and supplemental and corrected statements. Allows a third party assignee (other than the inventor) or a person with a proprietary interest to file a patent application. Modifies provisions relating to damages for patent infringement to: (1) require a court to conduct an analysis of a patent's specific contribution over prior art; (2) allow increased damages for willfull patent infringement; and (3) expand the prior user defense. Renames the Board of Patent Appeals as the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Revises provisions relating to the Board's composition, duties, and authorities. Allows a person who is not the patent owner to file a petition with the Board to cancel a patent as invalid (post-grant review). Sets forth procedures for the consideration of such petitions, including provisions to prevent harassment of patent owners and abuse of process. Allows third parties to submit documents relevant to the examination of a patent application. Revises venue requirements for civil patent actions against individuals and corporations to allow actions to be brought in the judicial district where either party resides (currently, where the defendant resides) or where the corporation has its principal place of business or was incorporated.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 18 April 2007

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E773-775)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 18 April 2007

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 18 April 2007

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 18 April 2007

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 20 April 2007

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

    Source: Committee

  6. 26 April 2007

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  7. 16 May 2007

    Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

    Source: Committee

  8. 16 May 2007

    Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  9. 18 July 2007

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  10. 18 July 2007

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  11. 4 September 2007

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 200.

    Source: Calendars

  12. 4 September 2007

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-314.

    Source: Committee

  13. 4 September 2007

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 110-314.

    Source: Committee

  14. 6 September 2007

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 636 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1908 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order againist consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill.

    Source: Floor

  15. 7 September 2007

    Passed

    The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

    Source: Floor

  16. 7 September 2007

    Floor

    The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1908.

    Source: Floor

  17. 7 September 2007

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  18. 7 September 2007

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 220 - 175 (Roll no. 863).

    Source: Floor

  19. 7 September 2007

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 220 - 175 (Roll no. 863).

    Source: Floor

  20. 7 September 2007

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H10307)

    Source: Floor

  21. 7 September 2007

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1908.

    Source: Floor

  22. 7 September 2007

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Hilda L. Solis to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

  23. 7 September 2007

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 636 and Rule XVIII.

    Source: Floor

  24. 7 September 2007

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1908 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order againist consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The resolution provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill.

    Source: Floor

  25. 7 September 2007

    Reported

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 636. (consideration: CR H10270-10307; text of measure as reported in House: CR H10285-10292)

    Source: Floor

  26. 7 September 2007

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 636 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  27. 10 September 2007

    Calendars

    Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

    Source: Calendars

  28. 11 September 2007

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 348.

    Source: Calendars

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 11 September 2007

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 11 September 2007

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 7 September 2007

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 7 September 2007

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 7 September 2007

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 4 September 2007

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 4 September 2007

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  • Reported to House with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 4 September 2007

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 18 April 2007

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 18 April 2007

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 18 April 2007

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Sources

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