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Patent Law: No Fines for Good Faith Errors in Assertions.

This new law introduces a significant change to patent and trademark law. Citizens and businesses submitting applications or certifications will not face fines for false assertions if they can demonstrate they acted in good faith. This provides greater protection against accidental procedural errors in the complex patent process.
Key points
Amendments to patent law (Title 35, United States Code) introduce an exception to financial penalties for false assertions.
If an entity (individual or company) shows that a false assertion or certification was made in good faith, they will avoid the imposition of a fine.
The law reduces the financial risk for inventors and entrepreneurs resulting from unintentional mistakes in patent and trademark documentation.
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Status:
Became Law
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_3960
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Process start date: 2024-03-14
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-flash-latest
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide a good faith exception to the imposition of fines for false assertions and certifications, and for other purposes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_3960.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2024-03-14.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Amendments to patent law (Title 35, United States Code) introduce an exception to financial penalties for false assertions.
  • If an entity (individual or company) shows that a false assertion or certification was made in good faith, they will avoid the imposition of a fine.
  • The law reduces the financial risk for inventors and entrepreneurs resulting from unintentional mistakes in patent and trademark documentation.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Became Law.

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. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Became Public Law No: 118-151.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

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