Congress advances USPTO fee-setting extension, but House debates reform
By Nick Robertson ( September 2, 2026, 21:55 GMT | Insight) -- Congress included a short-term extension of the USPTO's authority to set its own fees in a continuing resolution to the federal budget passed late Tuesday, averting a Sept. 16 expiration. But some IP experts at a hearing Wednesday urged the House to add more limits to the authority going forward.The House of Representatives postponed its federal budget debate until after the midterm elections, passing a continuing resolution on Tuesday that would fund the government until December. The measure included a short-term extension to the US Patent and Trademark Office's fee-setting authority, which office leadership has said is critical for its operations....
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