Assisting small businesses in the United States patent system

(a) Definition In this section, the term small business concern has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). (b) Small business administration report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, using existing resources, shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report analyzing the impact of— (1) patent ownership by small business concerns; and (2) civil actions against small business concerns arising under title 35, United States Code, relating to patent infringement. (c) Free online availability of public search facility materials Section 41(i) of title 35, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) Free online availability of public search facility materials The Director shall make available online and at no charge all patent and trademark information that is available at the Public Search Facility of the Office located in Alexandria, Virginia, including, except to the extent that licenses with third-party contractors would make such provision financially unviable— (A) search tools and databases; (B) informational materials; and (C) training classes and materials..