What is the AIA DATE?

The AIA DATE refers to the effective date of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), which was signed into law on September 16, 2011. However, the most significant provisions of the AIA, particularly those that changed the U.S. patent system from a first-to-invent system to a first-inventor-to-file system, took effect on March 16, 2013. This date is pivotal as it marks the transition to the new patent filing system under the AIA provisions.

Understanding this date is crucial for patent examiners and applicants alike, as it affects the assessment of prior art, the application of patent law, and the handling of patent applications filed after this date. The other dates listed do not correspond to the enactment of the primary changes introduced by the AIA, making March 16, 2013, the key date for recognizing the implementation of the new patent procedures and regulations established by the AIA.