Joint Comments to USPTO on 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance

The Association of American Universities (AAU), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and COGR submitted comments supporting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance, emphasizing its positive impact on clarifying patent eligibility and fostering innovation at research universities. They endorse the guidance’s efforts to address challenges arising from broad judicial interpretations of Section 101, especially concerning software and medical diagnostics, and advocate for maintaining a broad scope of patent-eligible subject matter while relying on existing statutory requirements to ensure patent quality. The associations express appreciation for their collaborative relationship with the USPTO and affirm their commitment to ongoing engagement in refining patent policy.