Inventors: Be diligent in filing your patent

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011 (AIA) is the first major revision of the patent statute in nearly 60 years. It has been taking effect in stages since enactment. A major change occurs in March of this year. Craig Miles of our office wrote a summary of changes for our clients, and he has given me permission to edit and to include it here.

The race to file first begins. The first-to-invent system rewarded the first to invent rather than the winner of a race to file. After March 16, the first-to-file system rewards the first to file an…