Laws › 118th Congress (2023–2024)

Public Law 118-151 · S 3960 · December 17, 2024 · Commerce

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.

Passed without a recorded vote✍ Signed by Joe Biden

What it does

A plain-language summary is coming. Here is the official summary from the Congressional Research Service:

This bill creates a good faith exception to certain fines imposed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Currently, the USPTO may reduce patent-related fees for small and micro entities, and an entity that falsely claims a fee reduction shall be subject to a fine. This bill exempts an entity from such a fine if the entity made a good faith assertion or certification that the entity was entitled to a fee reduction.

How Congress voted

This law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, so there is no record of how individual members voted.