Patent Law Practice Center

USPTO Report: “International Patent Protection for Small Businesses”

The AIA mandated that the USPTO release a study on how to best help small businesses file patents internationally. The USPTO worked in consultation with the United States Small Business Administration in researching the benefits and costs of developing an international IP strategy when the business is small or a start-up. The report’s findings suggest that small businesses would benefit from early investment in foreign patent applications, but the USPTO was unable to conclude whether or not a loan program or federal grant program would best remedy the problem of filing fees being too burdensome on the often cash poor new small businesses.

Here are some excerpts from the USPTO report.

American firms compete and grow by supplying products and services that consumers demand, and by internationalizing their businesses through licensing, franchising, or exporting. For many small companies, patent protection prevents competitors from simply copying their innovations, and aids in attracting investor capital needed to grow, build market share, and create jobs. Yet small companies face significant financial challenges in acquiring, maintaining, and enforcing patents outside the United States. Therefore, supporting small firms and fostering job creation requires a thorough understanding of these challenges and an exploration of possible remedies. (more…)