The America Invents Act

The America Invents Act (AIA) of 2011 revamped the U.S. patent system. It shifted from a "first to invent" to a "first to file" system, meaning the first person to file a patent application gets the rights, regardless of who invented it first. The AIA also introduced new procedures for challenging patents and created a system for post-grant reviews, allowing for more transparency. These changes aimed to streamline the patent process, reduce disputes, and encourage innovation by making it easier for inventors to protect their ideas while promoting a fairer system for all.