What marks the effective date of several AIA provisions?

The effective date of several provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA) is September 16, 2012. This legislation, which brought substantial changes to the U.S. patent system, was signed into law on September 16, 2011, but the majority of its key provisions, including those that transitioned the U.S. from a "first-to-invent" to a "first-to-file" system, took effect one year later.

The significance of this date lies in the fact that it marks the point when patent applicants began to operate under a new set of rules, which fundamentally changed the way patents are processed and evaluated. Understanding this date is crucial for anyone involved in patent law, as it delineates when new filings had to comply with AIA standards.

The other dates listed are either prior to the enactment of the AIA or pertain to specific provisions that were phased in, but they do not signify the effective date of the primary provisions under the AIA. Thus, recognizing September 16, 2012, as a pivotal moment in patent law transformation is essential for a clear grasp of the impact of the AIA.