American Inventors Protection Act

The American Inventors Protection Act (AIPA), enacted in 1999, aims to enhance patent protection and support for inventors. It introduced measures such as allowing inventors to file for a patent more efficiently and providing a system for "provisional patents," which give inventors time to develop their inventions before filing for full protection. AIPA also established a way for inventors to share their ideas with potential partners without losing patent rights. Overall, the act promotes innovation by making it easier for inventors to protect and commercialize their ideas while addressing some patent system inefficiencies.