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 - Doug Williams 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Doug Williams 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Mark Riley 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Mark Riley 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Valerie Heilbron 2022.08.31 Comment Download Public Comment - Valerie Heilbron 2022.08.31
Public Comment - Steven Caruso 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Steven Caruso 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Mark Loen 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Mark Loen 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Susan Currell 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Susan Currell 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Jason Weaver 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Jason Weaver 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Amazon 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - Amazon 2022.07.05
Public Comment - Edward Neister 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Edward Neister 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Martin Nguyen 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Martin Nguyen 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Caleb Freeman 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Caleb Freeman 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Steven Thrasher 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Steven Thrasher 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Mary Fletcher 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Mary Fletcher 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Theodore Essex 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Theodore Essex 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Jonathon Landell 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Jonathon Landell 2022.08.26
Public Comment - BPLA 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - BPLA 2022.07.05
Memo & Annotated Table of Contents for Consultative Group Discussion on Jan. 19, 2023 Memorandum Download Memo & Annotated Table of Contents for Consultative Group Discussion on Jan. 19, 2023
Senatorial Request for USPTO-ACUS Study Letter Download Senatorial Request for USPTO-ACUS Study
Request for Information Extension - U.S. Patent Small Claims Court Notice Download Request for Information Extension - U.S. Patent Small Claims Court
Request for Information - U.S. Patent Small Claims Court Notice Download Request for Information - U.S. Patent Small Claims Court

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

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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.
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