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Easier Patenting: New Rules for Inventors.

This act aims to simplify the process of obtaining patents for new inventions and discoveries by clarifying what can and cannot be patented. These changes could encourage innovation, potentially leading to new products and services becoming available in the future.
Key points
Expands the definition of "usefulness" for an invention, potentially making it easier to patent a wider range of innovations.
Clarifies that mathematical formulas, mental processes, or natural materials themselves are not patentable, unless they are part of a useful invention.
Allows for the patenting of modified human genes and natural materials if altered by human activity or used in a useful invention.
Courts will be able to resolve disputes more quickly regarding whether an invention qualifies for a patent.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_4734
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Process start date: 2022-08-02
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_4734.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2022-08-02.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Expands the definition of "usefulness" for an invention, potentially making it easier to patent a wider range of innovations.
  • Clarifies that mathematical formulas, mental processes, or natural materials themselves are not patentable, unless they are part of a useful invention.
  • Allows for the patenting of modified human genes and natural materials if altered by human activity or used in a useful invention.
  • Courts will be able to resolve disputes more quickly regarding whether an invention qualifies for a patent.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Economy