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
Patent Small Claims (Final Report) Report Download Patent Small Claims (Final Report)
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 - Jeff Hardin 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Jeff Hardin 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Kimberly Shepherd 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Kimberly Shepherd 2022.09.02
Public Comment - UIA 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - UIA 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Ronald Docie 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Ronald Docie 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Robert Schmidt 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Robert Schmidt 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Juliette Fassett 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Juliette Fassett 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Frances Barbaro 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Frances Barbaro 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Shalom Wertsberger 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Shalom Wertsberger 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Robert Merz 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Robert Merz 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Richard Brunner 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Richard Brunner 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Nicholas Frattalone 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Nicholas Frattalone 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Luis Millan 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Luis Millan 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Joel Weiss 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Joel Weiss 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Jack Powers 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Jack Powers 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Henry Sifuentes 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Henry Sifuentes 2022.09.02
Public Comment - David Burchinal 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - David Burchinal 2022.09.02
Public Comment - David Boundy 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - David Boundy 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Dave Madson 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Dave Madson 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Arnold Beal 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Arnold Beal 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Wayne Darnell 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Wayne Darnell 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Valerie Heilbron 2 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Valerie Heilbron 2 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Shivaji Prasad 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Shivaji Prasad 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Schumann Rafizadeh 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Schumann Rafizadeh 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Paul Hayes 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Paul Hayes 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Nate Bustamante 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Nate Bustamante 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Matt Vodvarka 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Matt Vodvarka 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Martin Nguyen 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Martin Nguyen 2022.09.02
Public Comment - Mark Riley 2022.09.02 Comment Download Public Comment - Mark Riley 2022.09.02
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