Patent assistance

Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638), as amended by sections 4, 6, and 7, is amended by adding at the end the following: (ddd) Patent assistance (1) Definitions In this subsection— (A) the term Director means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO; and (B) the term USPTO means the United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2) Assistance The Administrator shall enter into an interagency agreement with the Director under which the Director shall assist recipients of an award under the SBIR or STTR program (in this paragraph referred to as SBIR and STTR recipients) relating to intellectual property protection by establishing a prioritized patent examination program for SBIR and STTR recipients. (3) Outreach The Administrator shall coordinate with the Director to provide outreach regarding the Pro Se Assistance Program of, and scam prevention services provided by, the USPTO..