S. 1833 — Leadership in CET Act

This section establishes a pilot program at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), to be implemented by the USPTO Director not later than one year after enactment, to expedite examination under 35 U.S.C. §131 of covered applications—defined as noncontinuing, nonprovisional applications under 35 U.S.C. §111(a) for original utility patents that (1) contain at least one claimed invention directed to an eligible critical or emerging technology and (2) are submitted by applicants who are not foreign entities of concern (per 15 U.S.C. §4651) and certify that no inventor or joint inventor has been named on more than four prior covered applications under the program. Eligible critical or emerging technologies include (A) specified artificial intelligence capabilities (e.g., machine learning, generative AI systems, synthetic data approaches, or improvements to AI safety); (B) semiconductor design or electronic design automation tools; or (C) quantum information science capabilities (e.g., quantum computing, sensing, or communications). In implementing the program—which aims to promote U.S. innovation and leadership in these technologies—the Director may prescribe participation conditions and procedures (e.g., for restrictions, replies, amendments, appeals, or withdrawals), waive petition fees or accelerated/prioritized examination requirements, and consult other federal agencies (e.g., Defense, State, or National Intelligence). The program terminates after five years from the first accepted covered application or upon accepting 15,000 such applications (regardless of whether expedited), with possible renewal by the Director for up to another five years or until 15,000 additional applications, after notifying the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.