美国专利局在对专利审查决定中增加了有利于美国制造业和小企业的新因素, USPTO adds new factors favoring U.S. manufacturing and small businesses in patent review decisions, effective immediately.

2026年3月11日,USPTO引入了三个新的可自由裁量因素来决定是否启动互方审查或补助后审查程序,重点关注美国制造业和小企业的地位. On March 11, 2026, the USPTO introduced three new discretionary factors for deciding whether to institute Inter Partes Review or Post-Grant Review proceedings, focusing on U.S. manufacturing and small business status. 相关因素包括国内制造或投资的程度,专利所有者在美国生产竞争产品以及申请人是否为被控侵权小企业. The factors include the extent of domestic manufacturing or investment in accused products, whether the patent owner’s competing products are made in the U.S., and whether the petitioner is a small business sued for infringement. 修改后的法律将立即适用于正在审理中的案件,旨在使专利审查与国家经济利益保持一致. The changes apply immediately to pending cases and aim to align patent review with national economic interests, requiring detailed evidence on supply chains and corporate structure. 这一举动反映了政策转向支持国内工业和小创新者. The move reflects a broader policy shift toward supporting domestic industry and small innovators.