United States · Law · HR

H.R. 1249 (112th)

Leahy-Smith America Invents Act

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

30 March 2011

Last action

16 September 2011 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 112-29.

Summary

America Invents Act - Amends federal patent law to define the "effective filing date" of a claimed invention as the actual filing date of the patent or the application for patent containing a claim to the invention (thus replacing the current first-to-invent system), except as specified. Establishes a one-year grace period (a prior art exception) for inventors to file an application after certain disclosures of the claimed invention by the inventor or another who obtained the subject matter from the inventor. Revises provisions concerning novelty and nonobvious subject matter. Sets forth derived patent provisions. Replaces: (1) interference proceedings with derivation proceedings, and (2) the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (the Board). Modifies the earlier inventor to file defense to infringement. Allows a person who is not the patent owner to request to cancel as unpatentable one or more claims of patent by filing a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to institute: (1) post-grant review on any ground that could be raised under specified provisions relating to invalidity of the patent or any claim, and (2) inter partes review (replaces inter partes reexamination procedures) on specified novelty and nonobvious subject matter grounds based on prior art consisting of patents and printed publications. Prohibits the USPTO Director (Director) from authorizing: (1) inter partes review unless information in the petition and any response shows a substantial new question of patentability exists; or (2) post-grant review unless information in the petition, if not rebutted, would demonstrate that it is more likely than not that at least one of the challenged claims is unpatentable, or unless such petition raises a novel or unsettled legal question important to other patents or applications. Allows: (1) preissuance submissions by third parties, and (2) citations of prior art and written statements by any person at any time. Allows appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) from specified Board decisions, including examinations, reexaminations, post-grant and inter partes reviews, and derivation proceedings. Sets forth: (1) USPTO fee setting authority, (2) reduced fees for qualified small entities and micro entities, and (3) filing fees and other specified fees. Deems any strategy for reducing, avoiding, or deferring tax liability insufficient to differentiate a claimed invention from the prior art when evaluating specified conditions of patentability. Revises and adds provisions addressing: (1) false marking actions, (2) virtual markings, (3) best mode requirements, (4) supplemental examinations, and (5) invention-related royalties given to small businesses when a nonprofit organization has a funding agreement with the federal government. Requires the Director to establish a four-year transitional post-grant review proceeding for reviewing the validity of covered business-method patents. Denies state courts jurisdiction over legal actions relating to patents, plant variety protection, or copyrights. Grants the CAFC exclusive jurisdiction of appeals relating to patents or plant variety protection. Establishes the USPTO Public Enterprise Fund (replaces the Appropriation Account). Requires the Director to establish at least three U.S. satellite offices for the USPTO. Allows the Director to establish a Patent Ombudsman Program. Authorizes the USPTO to establish prioritized examination of applications important to the economy or national competitiveness.

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

Timeline

30 March 2011
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
30 March 2011
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
30 March 2011
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
30 March 2011
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet.
Source: Committee
30 March 2011
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
11 April 2011
Committee
Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet Discharged.
Source: Committee
14 April 2011
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 3.
Source: Committee
14 April 2011
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
1 June 2011
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 54.
Source: Calendars
1 June 2011
Discharge
Committee on The Budget discharged.
Source: Discharge
1 June 2011
Committee
Committee on The Budget discharged.
Source: Committee
1 June 2011
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-98, Part I.
Source: Committee
1 June 2011
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-98, Part I.
Source: Committee
21 June 2011
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 316 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2021 and H.R. 1249. 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. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 2021 and 80 minutes of general debate for H.R. 1249. The resolution also provides that for H.R. 1249, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Passed
On motion to rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Floor
Mr. Smith (TX) moved to rise.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Floor
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1249 as unfinished business.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2021 and H.R. 1249. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measures will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 2021 and 80 minutes of general debate for H.R. 1249. The resolution also provides that for H.R. 1249, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom Graves to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 316 and Rule XVIII.
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 316. (consideration: CR H4420-4452)
Source: Floor
22 June 2011
Passed
Rule H. Res. 316 passed House.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
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. 1249.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Vote
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 304 - 117 (Roll no. 491).
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 304 - 117 (Roll no. 491).
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Vote
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 172 - 251 (Roll no. 490).
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H4504)
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
Mr. Miller (NC) moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary. (consideration: CR H4503-4505; text: CR H4503)
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
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. (text: CR 6/22/2011 H4433-4438)
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H4503)
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1249.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
Mr. Jackson (IL) raised a point of order. Subsequent to the completion of a roll call vote on the Conyers amendment No. 9, the final disposition was called into question and by unanimous consent, the proceedings were vacated and the Conyers amendment No. 9 was redesignated and the question of adoption was put again by the Chair de novo for a re-vote by the Committee of the Whole.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced the unfinished business was on the question of adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Source: Floor
23 June 2011
Floor
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4480-4505)
Source: Floor
27 June 2011
Calendars
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Source: Calendars
28 June 2011
Calendars
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 87.
Source: Calendars
2 August 2011
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S5281)
Source: Floor
6 September 2011
Vote
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 - 5. Record Vote Number: 125. (consideration: CR S5328; text: CR S5328)
Source: Floor
7 September 2011
Floor
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S5353-5357)
Source: Floor
8 September 2011
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 89 - 9. Record Vote Number: 129.
Source: Floor
8 September 2011
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S5402-5443)
Source: Floor
12 September 2011
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
12 September 2011
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
16 September 2011
Became law
Became Public Law No: 112-29.
Source: President
16 September 2011
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
16 September 2011
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

8 September 2011 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill H.R. 1249 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 89 · No 9 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 2

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

6 September 2011 · Cloture Motion Agreed to · On the Cloture Motion H.R. 1249 · Cloture Motion Agreed to · Official source

Yes 93 · No 5 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 2

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
Public Law · 16 September 2011 · Download file
Placed on Calendar Senate · 28 June 2011 · Download file
Engrossed in House · 23 June 2011 · Download file
Reported in House · 1 June 2011 · Download file
Introduced in House · 30 March 2011 · Download file

Documents

17 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 16 September 2011
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 16 September 2011
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Public Law
summary · EN · 16 September 2011
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Passed Senate without amendment
summary · EN · 8 September 2011
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Placed on Calendar Senate (text)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 28 June 2011
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Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 28 June 2011
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 23 June 2011
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 23 June 2011
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 23 June 2011
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 1 June 2011
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 1 June 2011
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Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 1 June 2011
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 30 March 2011
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 30 March 2011
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 30 March 2011
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Direct relationships

Legal framework · Leahy-Smith America Invents Act · H.R. 1249 (112th) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 112-hr-1249 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1249
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/112/hr/1249
us · 112-hr-1249 · source updated 8 June 2026