Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act
This bill authorizes the holder of an acceleration certificate awarded under the Patents for Humanity program to transfer the certificate to another party.
(The Patents for Humanity program recognizes patent owners, applicants, and licensees that use their inventions to meet humanitarian challenges. The winners each receive a certificate that can be used to accelerate certain U.S. Patent and Trademark Office proceedings, such as a patent application.)
[116th Congress Public Law 316]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 134 STAT. 5065]]
Public Law 116-316
116th Congress
An Act
To allow acceleration certificates awarded under the Patents for
Humanity Program to be transferable. <<NOTE: Jan. 5, 2021 - [H.R.
7259]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Patents for
Humanity Program Improvement Act. 35 USC 131 note prec.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Patents for Humanity Program
Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSFERABILITY OF ACCELERATION CERTIFICATES.
(a) In General.--A holder of an acceleration certificate issued
pursuant to the Patents for Humanity Program (established in the notice
entitled ``Humanitarian Awards Pilot Program'', published at 77 Fed.
Reg. 6544 (February 8, 2012)), or any successor thereto, of the United
States Patent and Trademark Office, may transfer (including by sale) the
entitlement to such acceleration certificate to another person.
(b) Requirement.--An acceleration certificate transferred under
subsection (a) shall be subject to any other applicable limitations
under the notice entitled ``Humanitarian Awards Pilot Program'',
published at 77 Fed. Reg. 6544 (February 8, 2012), or any successor
thereto.
Approved January 5, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 7259:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
June 25, considered and passed House.
Dec. 15, considered and passed Senate.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Johnson (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2503-2504)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7259.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2503)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2503)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 488.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7507)
Enacted as Public Law 116-316
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Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7507)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 116-316.
Became Public Law No: 116-316.