WASHINGTON (December 3, 2024) — Today, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) applauded the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s decision to withdraw a proposed rule that would have imposed a burdensome new requirement for filing terminal disclaimers (Docket No. PTO-P-2024-0003).
Frank Cullen, executive director of C4IP, issued the following statement in support of the decision:
“Today’s decision marks a win for inventors nationwide. This unnecessary proposal would have weakened confidence in patent protections by making it harder and costlier for inventors to protect their creations. American innovation would have suffered as a result. C4IP detailed these problems in our July 2024 public comment on the proposed rule.
“The proposal would have far exceeded the Office’s authority and directly conflicted with current law. By declining to proceed with this harmful proposal despite the political pressure that originally brought it forth, the Office demonstrated a renewed commitment to the tried-and-true patent prosecution process inventors across the country rely on.
“C4IP will continue to work with the Office to ensure inventors’ rights are protected and enforced consistently. Without robust intellectual property rights, the United States would cease to be a global hub for emerging and competitive industries. The withdrawal of this proposal is an encouraging sign for American innovation in the 21st century.”
About Council for Innovation Promotion: The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness, and improve lives everywhere.