The America Invents Act implementation

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) is by far the most comprehensive change to the patent law in at least half a century. Implementation of the AIA has been ongoing, but the final and most critical provisions went into effect on March 16, 2013. Although, it will take several years before we fully understand the law's impact, the new law is likely to fundamentally change the way innovation is protected within the United States. Researchers will need to become increasingly vigilant as to publication dates as well as communications coming from their labs.