The U.S. House Judiciary and Appropriations Committees reached an agreement to amend the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office fee bill, H.R. 1561. This amendment essentially ends fees diversion from the USPTO. The legislation now heads to the House floor, where it is expected to pass. The U.S. President's 2005 budget proposal also indicates the administration's support for ending fee diversion from the USPTO.

World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO"): As of January 1, 2004 the reforms to the Patent Cooperation Treaty entered into force. The reforms include a simplified designation procedure, fee structure, new search and examination system, reduced duplication of work in processing of PCT applications and centralized availability to third parties of international preliminary examination reports through a request to WIPO.

Substantial amendments have been made to patent laws in Taiwan Details

New patent law for the United Arab Emirates Details