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AIPLA regularly provides comments to different agencies within the U.S. government, as well as to other domestic organizations, on matters impacting intellectual property laws and protection.

 

Internal Revenue Service
  • AIPLA Testimony on proposed revisions to 26 C.F.R. Parts 1 and 301, delivered February 21, 2008 before the Internal Revenue Service. (PDF)
  • AIPLA Response to the October 2007 rule proposed by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on “Patented Transactions,”submitted December 26, 2007 (3 pages - 37K* - Click PDF to view the Response; click HERE to view the IRS proposed rule (10/22/2007)
National Academy of Sciences
  • ​AIPLA Response to the National Research Council's Report on Reaping The Benefits of Genomic and Proteomic Research (31 pages –197K* Click HEREto view the Response; For information on the Report: Reaping the Benefits of Genomic and Proteomic Research: Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, and Public Health, please visit The National Academies Press by clicking HERE.)
  • AIPLA Response to the National Academies Report entitled "A Patent System for the 21st Century" (49 pages–243K* Click PDF to view the Response; Click PDF to view the Report.)
National Institutes of Health
  • Comments on Draft Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services: "Public Consultation Draft Report on Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests" 74(52) Federal Register 11730 (March 19, 2009) ( PDF)
National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • AIPLA Comments to NIST on March-In Rights Guidance, February 5, 2024 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Feedback to NIST Draft Green Paper on ROI Initiative February 8, 2019 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Response NIST Bayh-Dole Regulation, Dec 9, 2016 (PDF​)​
  • AIPLA Comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (National Science and Technology Council's Sub-Committee on Standards) on Standardization Feedback for Sub-Committee on Standards, February 18, 2011 (PDF)​
US Customs and Border Protection
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Customs 21st Century Framework, February 2, 2019 (PDF)​​
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Proposed Rulemaking, "Disclosure of Information for Certain Intellectual Property Rights Enforced at the Border," June 25, 2012 (PDF)​​
US International Trade Commission
  • AIPLA Comments on the International Trade Commission’s Investigation of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), May 3, 2023 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on Proposed Amendments to the Commission's Rules of General Application, Adjudication and Enforcement, November 23, 2015 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on Commission FY2015 Budget and Space for Section 337 Investigations, May 19, 2014 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator in Response to Request for Public Comments:  "Interagency Review of Exclusion Order Enforcement Process," July 19, 2013 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Rules of General Application, Adjudication, and Enforcement,” December 4, 2012 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Rules of General Application, Adjudication, and Enforcement,” September 17, 2012 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on Proposed Revisions to Rules of Practice and Procedure and Proposed Handbook on Filing Procedures, August 5, 2011 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on proposed revisions to 19 C.F.R. Sections 201 and 210, filed March 19, 2008 at the US International Trade Commission (PDF)
US Securities and Exchange Commission
  • AIPLA Comments to Concept Release on Business and Financial Disclosure Required by Regulation S-K​, August 9, 2016 (PDF)​
US Trade Representative 
  • Letter Submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representative Supporting US Opposition to TRIPS Waiver Proposal, March 30, 2021 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on the Draft Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Relating to Civil or Commercial Matters, March 19, 2018 (PDF)​
  • AIPLA and PhRMA Comments on Draft Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Relating to Civil or Commercial Matters​ Currently Being Negotiated at The Hague Conference on Private International Law​, July 19, 2017 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement ("ACTA" or "Agreement") and the ongoing negotiations between the possible Member States, submitted September 27, 2010. (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on the Proposed Amendment and Correction of Trademark Registrations published in the Federal Register on December 18, 2003 (Comments submitted February 2, 2004) (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on the "Work Program set forth in the draft Ministerial Declaration submitted by the WTO General Council and WTO Director-General for consideration at the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conference scheduled for Doha, Qatar next month" (October 11, 2001) (PDF​)
Other

AIPLA Files Comments to Health and Human Services (HHS) on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Proposed Pandemic Treaty

  • AIPLA Comments to HHS on WHO Pandemic Treaty, January 31, 2024 (PDF)

AIPLA Files Comments on Proposed Final Pretrial Conference Pilot and Order

  • AIPLA Files Comments on Proposed Final Pretrial Conference Pilot and Order, August 26, 2022 (PDF)

AIPLA Comments to ACUS on Patent Small Claims Court

  • AIPLA Comments on a Potential Small Claims Patent Court or Small Claims Patent Proceeding and its Impacts, July 5, 2022 (PDF)

Regarding the Position of the USPTO Director

  • AIPLA Comments to the Department of Commerce Regarding the Position of USPTO Director, June 28, 2017 (PDF​)
  • AIPLA White Paper Concerning the Recommended Qualifications for the Next Director and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, November 2013 (PDF)​

​Office of the Presidential Transition

  • AIPLA Letter to Biden Administration, February 26, 2021 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Letter to President-Elect Donald Trump, January 4, 2017 (PDF​​)​

U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator on Development of the Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, December 3, 2018 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator on Development of the Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, October 30, 2015 (PDF)​
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator in Response to Request for Public Comments:  "Interagency Review of Exclusion Order Enforcement Process," July 19, 2013 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments to OMB Regarding Negative Impact of Sequestration on USPTO Funding and Operations, May 21, 2013 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator in Response to Request for Public Comments for "Trade Secret Theft Strategy Legislative Review," April 22, 2013 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator on Development of the Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, August 10, 2012 (PDF)​

The Sedona Conference

  • AIPLA Comments on the Sedona Conference Report on the Markman Process, submitted February 2, 2007 (PDF)
  • AIPLA Comments on the Revised April 2005 Public Comment Draft" of The Sedona Guidelines: Best Practices Addressing Protective Orders, Confidentiality & Public Access in Civil Cases (the "Draft Guidelines"). Filed May 14, 2006. (PDF)
  • Letter expressing initial concerns of AIPLA on the Revised April 2005 Public Comment Draft" of The Sedona Guidelines: Best Practices Addressing Protective Orders, Confidentiality & Public Access in Civil Cases (the "Draft Guidelines"). Filed March 10, 2006. (PDF)

Miscellaneous

  • AIPLA Joint Comments to Mayor Eric Garcetti in Support of the Anti-Piracy Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department, March 9, 2018 (PDF)

In This Section

Recent Advocacy

Written October 20, 2022

Patent practitioners help financially under-resourced inventors file and prosecute patent applications.

 

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is committed to increasing inventor diversity, improving equity in the innovation ecosystem, stimulating the national economy, creating jobs, and ensuring America’s competitiveness. The Patent Pro Bono Program is one of the primary tools the USPTO has to meet these goals and to ensure financially underserved communities can access the patent system.  The impact of the Patent Pro Bono Program entirely depends on volunteer services from practitioners like yourself, who can directly make a difference in someone’s life.

Take for example, Jermikko. A graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Jermikko originally felt she had to pursue her fashion-related inventions on her own until a friend told her about the Chicago-Kent Patent Hub, one of USPTOs 21 regional not-for-profit organizations operating the Patent Pro Bono Program. At the time, Jermikko was working on a provisional application for a SwapOut Hoodie, a hooded sweatshirt with a zipper allowing its two sides to be entirely detached to “swap out” different colors for each side. Jermikko conceived the idea while shopping after overhearing a son beg his mother to buy two hoodies so he could represent his team colors. Today, it is one of her best-known designs and can be seen in a popular music video. Jermikko, who ultimately was granted patents 10,028,541 and D842,589, has high praise for the practitioners that she worked with through the Patent Pro Bono Program, who to this day remain available to answer questions.

Over the course of the Patent Pro Bono Program’s 11 years, practitioners have donated over 87,000 hours, resulting in more than 1,800 patent applications being filed.  Through USPTO’s collaboration with 21 regional programs, financially under-resourced inventors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have access to patent pro bono services via the organizations who screens and matches eligible candidates with volunteer registered patent practitioners. Patent protection results in increased opportunities for inventors to bring their inventions to market. The program benefits not only the inventor, but also the public, by encouraging innovation and progress.

Each year, the USPTO recognizes attorneys and firms that make significant volunteer contributions to the Patent Pro Bono Program and share the value that all inventors should have access to patent services. Past and present pro bono certificate recipients can be found on our Practitioner Recognition webpage. Together, we can publicly reinforce the paramount importance of inventor diversity in the innovation ecosystem for the good of the nation as a whole. Can we count on you to be among this year’s contributors?

If you are a registered patent practitioner in good standing, you are uniquely qualified to represent inventors who have no financial means to afford legal representation to file and prosecute patent applications before the USPTO. According to AIPLA President Patrick J. Coyne, "The Patent Pro Bono Program provides patent practitioners a great opportunity to assist inventors who do not have the means to afford legal services." AIPLA encourages you to volunteer through the Patent Pro Bono Program webpage or to email probono@uspto.gov with any questions that you might have.

To volunteer with the regional program in your state, click on the map.

 

In an AIPLA-USPTO partnership, this article was written by the USPTO and published by AIPLA.