1229009 Apr 2026

Shifting the patent term to 20 years from the filing date (rather than 17 years from the issuance date) removes the incentive to delay.

Submarine patents undermine the spirit of the patent system by stifling innovation and creating legal uncertainty, necessitating modern reforms to ensure "submarine" tactics remain a relic of the past. II. The Mechanism of the "Submerge" 1229009

In many jurisdictions, patents are now published 18 months after filing, making it harder to stay "submerged." Shifting the patent term to 20 years from

Inventors file applications with vague or expansive language. 1229009

True innovation thrives on clarity; by closing the loopholes that allow submarine patents to exist, the legal system protects the honest inventor and the competitive market alike. ARTICLE - Houston Law Review