STRONGER Patents Act Proposes Substantial Changes to AIA Trial Proceedings - Buchanan PTAB Report

On June 21, 2017, Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the STRONGER Patents Act of 2017 in the Senate. STRONGER is an acronym for "Support Technology and Research for Our Nation’s Growth and Economic Resilience." The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Haw.). In a press release by Sen. Coons, the STRONGER Patents Act purports "to protect and support inventors and innovators and ensure that our patent system protects this essential property right." According to the press release, the STRONGER Patents Act is an "improvement" of Sen. Coons’ STRONG Patents Act of 2015, which was not voted on by the full Senate in the last Congressional term.