U.S. Patent Small Claims Court

The USPTO engaged ACUS to conduct an independent study of issues associated with and options for designing a small claims patent court. The resulting report, which was ultimately be submitted to Congress, addressed, among other topics, whether there is need for a small claims patent court, the feasibility and potential structure of such a court, and the relevant legal, policy, and practical considerations in establishing a small claims court.

The ACUS Office of the Chair conducted the study and prepared the report with the assistance of Professors Kali Murray (Marquette Law), Arti Rai (Duke Law), and Melissa Wasserman (University of Texas Law). 

The Office of the Chair engaged with a wide range of interested persons as part of its study. To ensure all stakeholders had an opportunity to provide input, on May 3, 2022, ACUS published a request for information in the Federal Register welcoming views, information, and data on all aspects of a potential small claims patent court or small claims patent proceeding and its impact. ACUS extended the public comment period through August 26, 2022 and subsequently through September 2, 2022.

A consultative group of academic experts and legal practitioners, listed below, advised ACUS on questions regarding the study’s methodology for quantitative, qualitative, and legal research. Consultative group meetings were open to the public, and meeting minutes are posted to this webpage.

The Office of the Chair also conducted interviews with a wide range of stakeholders. Interviewees were selected based, in part, on public comments received in response to the request for information and input from the consultative group.

Consultative Group Members

A consultative group of academic experts and legal practitioners advised ACUS on questions regarding the study’s methodology for quantitative, qualitative, and legal research. Members of the consultative group were:

News Releases

Contacts:

Implementation Contact

Project Documents

Name Committee Type Date File
Public Comment - Shivaji Prasad 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Shivaji Prasad 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Robert Fortier-Bensen 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Robert Fortier-Bensen 2022.08.30
Public Comment - George Voirol 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - George Voirol 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Roderick Whitfield 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Roderick Whitfield 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Edward Neister 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Edward Neister 2022.08.26
Comment from Susan Braden 2022.08.04 Comment Download Comment from Susan Braden 2022.08.04
Public Comment - Shalom Wertsberger 2022.05.22 Comment Download Public Comment - Shalom Wertsberger 2022.05.22
Public Comment - David Breed 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - David Breed 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Kenneth Drake 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Kenneth Drake 2022.09.02
Public Comment - UIA 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - UIA 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Roy Smith 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Roy Smith 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Jeff Haley 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Jeff Haley 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Sean Malek 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Sean Malek 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Emmett Farris 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Emmett Farris 2022.08.26
Public Comment - David Burchinal 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - David Burchinal 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Kimberly Shepherd 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Kimberly Shepherd 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Valerie Heilbron 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Valerie Heilbron 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Samuel Hay 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Samuel Hay 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Juris Pupols 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Juris Pupols 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Steve Kube 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Steve Kube 2022.08.26
Public Comment - George Mouzakis 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - George Mouzakis 2022.08.26
Public Comment - ACT 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - ACT 2022.07.05
Public Comment - David Monroe 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - David Monroe 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Luis Millan 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Luis Millan 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Wayne Darnell 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Wayne Darnell 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Seth Friedman 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Seth Friedman 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Lukas Przybylo 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Lukas Przybylo 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Steven Bridgers 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Steven Bridgers 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Jason Kemmerer 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Jason Kemmerer 2022.08.26
Public Comment - AIPLA 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - AIPLA 2022.07.05

No events found.

Consultative Group Meeting #2 - U.S. Patent Small Claims Court

-
Location name
ACUS will be hosting this meeting remotely. Members of the public interested in participating should contact Kazia Nowacki at knowacki@acus.gov and info@acus.gov to RSVP and request attendance information.
  .