Major recommendations of the U.S. President's Patent Commission

On April 8, 1965, President Johnson ordered the establishment of a Commission to study the U.S. patent system in all of its aspects and to recommend legislation that would improve its service to society. The membership of the Commission was announced on July 23, 1965, and comprised 14 representatives of important areas affected by the patent system: science and engineering, large and small business, universities, patent attorneys, the judiciary, the National Science Foundation and the Departments of Commerce and Defense. Other government agencies were represented by observers. In its report, the Commission made 35 recommendations, some of which, if adopted, will represent the first major changes in our patent system since 1836. In this article one of the Commission members, the IEEE Secretary, presents some of the highlights of the Commission's report.