Bill Overview
Title: Patents for Humanity Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides statutory authority for a program to award certificates that may be used to accelerate certain proceedings and applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The program established under this bill shall be treated as the successor to the existing Patents for Humanity program. Under this bill, the PTO must hold a competition at least once every two years to award certificates to eligible entities that submit a patent application that addresses a humanitarian issue.
Sponsors: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Target Audience
Population: People engaged in innovation addressing humanitarian issues worldwide
Estimated Size: 5000
- The Patents for Humanity Act of 2022 aims to accelerate U.S. patent processes, which would likely impact inventors and organizations seeking patents.
- Those engaged in developing technologies to address humanitarian issues globally, not just in the US, will be directly affected.
- Researchers and inventors worldwide who apply for patents impacting humanitarian issues will be encouraged to participate.
- The faster processing of patents can lead to quicker deployment of solutions for global humanitarian challenges.
Reasoning
- The Patents for Humanity Act is targeted primarily at inventors and researchers who are engaged in humanitarian innovation. This group includes academic researchers, startups, established companies, and non-profit organizations, mostly centered in fields like health, agriculture, and environmental solutions. This act might not directly impact the general population but will influence those in the innovation sector by expediting their patent application processes.
- The budget, while substantial, will need to be carefully allocated across a vast array of potential beneficiaries, given the international appeal of such patents addressing humanitarian issues. The reach and direct budgetary impact need to be carefully considered to ensure the program doesn't exceed its financial limits and serves its intended purpose effectively.
- The direct impact in terms of well-being improvement will primarily be on inventors' capacity to bring their innovations to market faster due to expedited processes, rather than immediate financial or social well-being improvements. The broader social implications might be seen in the long term when these innovations reach the populations that benefit from them.
Simulated Interviews
Biotech Researcher (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've always supported programs that incentivize innovation with a social impact. This act could finally speed up the process of getting crucial vaccines out there.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Patent Attorney (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could reduce the queue, making the process efficient for my clients who are working on life-saving technologies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Start-up Founder (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs like this offer startups like mine a fighting chance to get our innovations recognized and protected quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
University Professor (Boston, MA)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an academic, the ability to have patents processed faster allows us to shift focus to research impacts rather than process delays.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Pharmaceutical Executive (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our company can benefit from expedited patents, but the competition is also intense, and certificate awards could be limiting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Environmental Scientist (San Diego, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Technologies that address water scarcity can benefit immensely from faster patent processes. This law adds real value to our mission.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
CEO of a Tech Non-Profit (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Making the patent process more efficient is a step in the right direction for non-profits that focus on immediate societal impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Medical Device Engineer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fast-tracking patents could help us partner with global health organizations more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Agritech Innovator (Denver, CO)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Easier access to patents through competitions can propel agritech innovations addressing food security issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Independent Inventor (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such acts offer inventors like me a chance to make a larger impact without being bogged down by patent barriers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $2500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $3500000)
Year 3: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 5: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 100: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Key Considerations
- The exact number of applications and participants in the program will determine variations in administrative costs.
- Potential commercial success of accelerated patents could influence both GDP and tax revenue over time.