Sustainable Domestic Manufacturing and Protecting IP in a Post AIA World

Ten years ago, the American Invents Act was passed by Congress. Despite lofty intentions, the AIA significantly degrades the value of IP and patents. Terves has recently gone through an enforcement action against a large importer of foreign magnesium products. The current system is rigged against small company inventors, with non-technical administrative judges invalidating 84% of patents in favor of infringers, versus <50% by multiple skilled patent examiners during reexaminations. Enforceable IP is essential for American competitiveness to complete with subsidized, unregulated, and lower cost offshore locations. Terves is a member of the US Inventor, representing 60,000 inventors focused on restoring individual patent rights post AIA. Terves’ experience enforcing IP rights in today’s climate as well as US inventors pending bill to restore patent rights will be discussed along with potential strategies and actions that inventors can take to mitigate AIA limitations.