America First-To-Invent to First-To-File

http://www.inventorsdigest.com/archives/7262

• Now that passage of the America Invents Act (patent reform) is all but certain – it’s only awaiting the President’s signature
• It is clear that the current first-to-invent system almost never benefits the independent inventor.
• Further, the cost of proving who was first to invent, under the current system, is prohibitive to small businesses and independent inventors. It costs an average of $400,000 to $500,000 in legal fees to engage in interference proceedings to determine who invented first.
• So the facts demonstrate that the current system of first-to-invent actually favors those with deep pockets and works to the disadvantage of small companies and independent inventors with limited resources.