US lawmakers target patent diversity gap
A group of bicameral and bipartisan lawmakers last week introduced legislation to help close the patenting gap faced by women and minorities in the US.
The legislation, called the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement (IDEA) Act of 2019, would direct the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to collect demographic data from patent applicants on a voluntary basis.
Senator Thom Tillis, chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on IP, Senator Mazie Hirono, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, and Congressman Steve Stivers introduced the bill on Thursday, July 26.
Under the act, the USPTO would also issue reports on the data and make the data publically available.
In February this year, the office reported that women inventors make up just 12% of all patent inventors in the US. The rate of women inventors in patents remains below the share of women working in science and engineering industries (28%), according to a report from the office.
Despite the “sluggish” growth in the number of women inventors overall, the number of patents with at least one woman listed as an inventor has increased from 7% in the 1980s to 21% in 2016.
A few months later, in May, the USPTO announced that it was seeking public comments on the participation of women, minorities and veterans in entrepreneurship activities and the patent system.
Both the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on IP and the House Committee on the judiciary’s subcommittee on courts, IP, and the internet have held hearings on the underrepresentation of women and minority inventors applying for patents in the US.
Tillis said: “We must work to close this gap to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to innovate, and I am proud to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to get a better understanding of the background of individuals who apply for patents with the USPTO.”
Hirono added that, for the US to continue its leadership in terms of technological innovation, the country needs to harness the potential of all Americans.
She said: “I have long championed increased opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
“Making sure those same people have equal access to the patent system is not just the right thing to do, but it will also grow our economy and ensure American leadership in science and technology for decades to come.”
Earlier this year, WIPR launched its own diversity channel, focusing on women in the IP industry.
In “ Women in STEM: Bridging the gender gap”, WIPR investigated the reasons behind the failure to attract and retain women, and what needs to be done to improve this. We also delved into the work Technology Transfer Offices in the US are doing to promote greater female participation in the patent system.
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