How HR 8697 changes current law

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to expand the scope of outreach and support for diversity within the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as well as modifying fee reductions for small and micro entities.

• 35 U.S.C. 41(h)

  50 percent → 60 percent or more, at the discretion of the Director

  This change increases the fee reduction for small entities from 50% to a minimum of 60% at the Director's discretion.

• 35 U.S.C. 41(h)

  75 percent → 80 percent or more, at the discretion of the Director

  This change increases the fee reduction for micro entities from 75% to a minimum of 80% at the Director's discretion.

• 35 U.S.C. 1 note

  increase outreach activities to → , including by increasing outreach activities, including to women, people of color, veterans, individual inventors, or members of any other demographic, geographic, rural population, or economic group that the Director may determine to be underrepresented in patent filings

  This change broadens the outreach mandate of the Office to specifically target underrepresented groups in patent filings.

• 35 U.S.C. 1 note

  and → and

  This indicates a continuation of related points without altering the existing text.

• 35 U.S.C. 1 note

  . → ; and

  This indicates a continuation of related points without altering the existing text.

• 35 U.S.C. 1 note

  2) → 2) enhance patent examiner and administrative patent judge retention, including patent examiners and administrative patent judges from economically, geographically, and demographically diverse backgrounds;

  This change emphasizes the importance of diversity in retaining patent examiners and administrative patent judges.

• 35 U.S.C. 1 note

  when selecting a site for the office required under paragraph (1), → When selecting a site for the office required under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider the following:

  This clarifies and improves the requirements for selecting sites for satellite offices, emphasizing multiple associated factors.

• The Director shall establish not less than 4 community outreach offices throughout the United States.

  This mandates the establishment of community outreach offices to enhance public awareness and engagement with the patent system.

• The Director shall work with and support, including by providing financial support, to intellectual property law associations across the United States that have established patent pro bono programs to expand eligibility for such programs to individuals living in a household, the gross household income of which is not more than 400 percent of the Federal poverty line.

  This expands the income threshold for eligibility in patent pro bono programs, increasing access to these services for more individuals.