According to the AIA, what is the effective date for the changes regarding inventor-assignee filings?

The effective date for the changes regarding inventor-assignee filings established under the America Invents Act (AIA) is September 16, 2012. This date marks the transition to a first-inventor-to-file system and introduced significant changes to patent law, including provisions that affected how inventors and assignees can file patent applications.

Specifically, the AIA allowed a person who has legally assigned their rights to a patent application to file the application in their own name, and provided clarification on the rights of assignees and inventors in the patent process. This change aimed to streamline the filing process and reduce disputes over inventorship, ensuring that the rights of inventors and assignees are clearly articulated.

By establishing September 16, 2012, as the effective date for these provisions, the AIA marked a critical shift in patent law practice in the United States. The other provided dates do not align with the enactment of these changes, thus confirming September 16, 2012, as the correct answer.