Leadership in CET Act
Latest action (16 Dec 2024): Introduced
What this bill does
The Leadership in CET Act would direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to create a pilot program, within one year of enactment, allowing certain patent applications to be examined out of turn. Eligible applications must relate to artificial intelligence, microelectronics, or quantum information science, as those terms are defined in existing federal law. The Director could waive certain USPTO fees and program requirements and could cap how many expedited applications a single applicant may submit.
To qualify, an applicant must be a U.S.-incorporated entity or a U.S.-resident inventor, and the application must be an original, nonprovisional, noncontinuing patent filing. The program would primarily affect inventors and companies working in these three technology areas, giving them a potential path to faster patent review. The bill sets termination triggers—five years after the first related patent issues, or after 10,000 applications are accepted—with an option for USPTO to renew the program once, subject to notifying Congress. USPTO would also have to publish participation data and, after the program ends, submit a report to Congress assessing its impact.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on December 16, 2024, by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) as a cosponsor, and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It has not received a committee vote or floor action, and because it was introduced in the second session of the 118th Congress, it would need to be reintroduced in a subsequent Congress to be considered further.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill was introduced on December 16, 2024, in a previous session of Congress, but it did not receive a vote.
Common questions
- What does S. 5537 do?
- The Leadership in CET Act would direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to create a pilot program, within one year of enactment, allowing certain patent applications to be examined out of turn. Eligible applications must relate to artificial intelligence, microelectronics, or quantum information science, as those terms are defined in existing federal law. The Director could waive certain USPTO fees and program requirements and could cap how many expedited applications a single applicant may submit. To qualify, an applicant must be a U.S.-incorporated entity or a U.S.-resident inventor, and the application must be an original, nonprovisional, noncontinuing patent filing. The program would primarily affect inventors and companies working in these three technology areas, giving them a potential path to faster patent review. The bill sets termination triggers—five years after the first related patent issues, or after 10,000 applications are accepted—with an option for USPTO to renew the program once, subject to notifying Congress. USPTO would also have to publish participation data and, after the program ends, submit a report to Congress assessing its impact. The bill was introduced in the Senate on December 16, 2024, by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) as a cosponsor, and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It has not received a committee vote or floor action, and because it was introduced in the second session of the 118th Congress, it would need to be reintroduced in a subsequent Congress to be considered further.
- Has S. 5537 become law?
- Not yet. As of 16 Dec 2024, S. 5537 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 5537?
- S. 5537 was sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn [R-TN] (Republican-TN), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 5537?
- Introduced (16 Dec 2024).
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