Support for the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act ("IDEA") Act of 2021

The American Intellectual Property Law Association (“AIPLA”) is pleased to support the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act (“IDEA”) Act of 2021. We appreciate the Committee’s continued interest in improving inventor diversity and urge you to move forward with the legislation.

The IDEA Act would enable the USPTO to collect certain demographic data from patent applicants on a voluntary basis, including gender, race, and military or veteran status. AIPLA agrees with the proponents of the legislation that the collection of this data is important in light of studies that indicate women, racial minorities, and other groups are significantly underrepresented in the patent system. The information collected may be evaluated and studied and could be useful in developing various ways to address where the system may not be sufficiently serving inventors in these communities.

Recently, the National Council for Expanding American Innovation (“NCEAI”) was launched to help guide the USPTO in developing a comprehensive national strategy to build a more diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem by encouraging wider participation demographically, geographically, and economically.1 AIPLA is actively engaged in the work of the National Council, both as a member of the Board and participant in its Working Group. AIPLA believes that IDEA Act will make a valuable contribution to help advance the work of the Council to bring the U.S. intellectual property system to a more diverse population of inventors and creators.

The importance of intellectual property to the U.S. economy requires appropriate incentives to create and innovate within an ecosystem that promotes, encourages and nurtures the development of everyone’s creative and innovative works.
Thank you in advance for considering our views. AIPLA urges the Members of the Committee on the Judiciary to support this legislation.