The so-called "patent reform" has been in the air for many years in the United States but, after nearly a decade of legislative efforts, it is now real. On September 16, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the "America Invents Act" into law, an Act

qualified by the White House as "the most significant reform of the Patent Act since 1952".

While some changes are relatively minor and simple, some others constitute dramatic changes to the US patent system. Many changes

came into effect immediately while others will go into effect very soon. This bulletin highlights key aspects of the America Invents Act.