The Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act of 2024 requires the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to collect voluntary demographic information from inventors submitting patent applications, including details about their gender, race, military or veteran status, and other categories the office deems appropriate. The collected information will be kept confidential and separate from patent applications to ensure it does not influence the examination process or bias patent decisions. The bill requires the Patent and Trademark Office to publish annual reports starting 18 months after implementation, breaking down patent applications and grants by demographic categories, technology class, and state, along with publicly available data that allows researchers to analyze subgroups while protecting individual privacy. Additionally, the office must submit biennial reports to Congress evaluating the data collection process and recommending improvements. This legislation affects inventors and patent applicants in the United States and aims to provide data on diversity and access within the patent system without requiring participation.
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