WASHINGTON (June 10, 2026) — Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), and Darrell Issa (R-CA) recently introduced the Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act, which would deny U.S. patent rights to entities and individuals designated on federal national security watchlists, including the Non-SDN CMIC List, the 1260H List, and the FCC Covered List.
Frank Cullen, executive director of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP), issued the following statement urging lawmakers to reconsider the bill:
“C4IP shares Congress’s commitment to protecting U.S. national security and addressing threats posed by foreign adversaries. However, the Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act poses a significant risk of unintended consequences. By denying or restricting patent rights to foreign entities, the legislation could invite other nations to retaliate against American innovators abroad, including by stealing or misappropriating U.S.-owned technology.
“The Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act may also conflict with U.S. treaty obligations and undermine the principle that patents are secure property rights. Any erosion of confidence in the U.S. patent system risks weakening the integrity of intellectual property rights globally, with far-reaching consequences for innovation, investment, and America’s global technological leadership. As a result, C4IP will score support for the Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act negatively in the Congressional Innovation Scorecard.
“As lawmakers examine the full implications of this proposal, it is essential to ensure that efforts to strengthen national security do not inadvertently weaken the intellectual property framework that has helped make the United States the world’s leading innovation economy. C4IP stands ready to work with Congress on targeted solutions to address legitimate security concerns while preserving the integrity, reliability, and global standing of the U.S. patent system.”
About the 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.