PATENT APPLICATION PUBLICATION 18 MONTHS AFTER FILING PROPOSED

Executive Summary

PATENT APPLICATION PUBLICATION 18 MONTHS AFTER FILING PROPOSED in legislation introduced Feb. 11 by Sen. DeConcini (D-Paiz.). Under the Patent Simplification Act of 1994 (S 1854), applications for patents would be open to public inspection and copies made available to the public 18 months after the date of filing. The DeConcini bill also would establish a fixed 20-year patent term from the date an application is filed, replacing the current system of 17-year terms measured from the date a patent is granted.