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
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
Senatorial Request for USPTO-ACUS Study Letter Download Senatorial Request for USPTO-ACUS Study
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
Public Comment - Frances Barbaro 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Frances Barbaro 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Matt Vodvarka 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Matt Vodvarka 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Craig Zale 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Craig Zale 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Syed Zaidi 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Syed Zaidi 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Michael Barrett 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Michael Barrett 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Trenton Despain 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Trenton Despain 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Josh Malone 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Josh Malone 2022.08.26
Public Comment - CCIA 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - CCIA 2022.07.05
Public Comment - Henry Sifuentes 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Henry Sifuentes 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Nate Bustamante 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Nate Bustamante 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Edward Lin 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Edward Lin 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Tracey Kennedy 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Tracey Kennedy 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Michael McCarty 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Michael McCarty 2022.08.26
Public Comment - United for Patent Reform 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - United for Patent Reform 2022.08.26
Public Comment - JP Lapeyre 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - JP Lapeyre 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Norm Hedges et al 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - Norm Hedges et al 2022.07.05
Public Comment - Ian Osborn 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Ian Osborn 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Nicholas Frattalone 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Nicholas Frattalone 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Irl Sanders 2022.08.30 Comment Download Public Comment - Irl Sanders 2022.08.30
Public Comment - Alberto Ratmiroff 2022.08.29 Comment Download Public Comment - Alberto Ratmiroff 2022.08.29
Public Comment - Michael Worden 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Michael Worden 2022.08.26
Public Comment - US Inventor 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - US Inventor 2022.08.26
Public Comment - Kamran Kamrani 2022.08.26 Comment Download Public Comment - Kamran Kamrani 2022.08.26
Public Comment - PIPLI & Engine 2022.07.05 Comment Download Public Comment - PIPLI & Engine 2022.07.05
Public Comment - Jack Powers 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Jack Powers 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Paul Hayes 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Paul Hayes 2022.09.02
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