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HR 359 104th Congress House Commerce Foreign Trade and International Finance Free trade Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Intellectual property Patents Trade agreements

To restore the term of patents, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 4, 1995 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 10, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7255-7257)
Jun 24, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6703-6706)
Jun 18, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6499-6506)
Jun 12, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6281)
May 23, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5562-5563)
May 15, 1996
Subcommittee Failed to Forward to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 2 - 12.
May 15, 1996
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 1, 1995
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 26, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6306-6307)
Jun 13, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5780, H5901-5902)
Jan 30, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H843)
Jan 25, 1995
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.
Jan 24, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H554)
Jan 11, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H183)
Jan 4, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 4, 1995
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends provisions of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act that revise Federal patent law to provide that a patent term shall be the later of 17 years from the date the patent is granted or 20 years from the date the application was filed in the United States. Provides that if the application contains a reference to an earlier application, the term shall be 20 years from the date the earliest application was filed.

Removes provisions that provide for extensions of patent terms under certain conditions. Provides for public disclosure and inspection of original and continuing patent applications in cases where a continuing patent application is filed that claims the benefit of the filing date of a prior application that was filed more than 60 months earlier.

Requires the term of a patent that is in force or results from an application filed within six months after the Uruguay Round Agreements Act enactment date to be the term provided in this Act.

What's happening now July 10, 1996

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7255-7257)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 8 Republican 6 Independent 1
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jun 6, 1996
 D
Fields, Cleo
Louisiana · Dec 13, 1995
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Dec 5, 1995
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Oct 18, 1995
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Jul 26, 1995
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · May 16, 1995
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Apr 5, 1995
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Feb 13, 1995
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Feb 9, 1995
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Feb 1, 1995
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jan 13, 1995
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jan 4, 1995
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Jan 4, 1995
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Jan 4, 1995
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Jan 4, 1995
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 359: To restore the term of patents, and for other purposes.. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-359/
MLA
"H.R. 359: To restore the term of patents, and for other purposes.." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-359/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 359, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-359/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 359: To restore the term of patents, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-359/)
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