Patent Commentaries Analyzing the America Invents Act will help corporate and outside counsel understand the impact of Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). The Act, signed by President Obama on September 16, 2011, is regarded as the most significant patent reform act since 1952 and it is going to have a tremendous impact on patent practitioners and patent-intensive corporations. It shifts the U.S. from a "First to Invent" system to a "First Inventor to File" system in March 2013, effectively harmonizing U.S patent law with international patent practice. The product provides analysis on the rolling effective dates of different provisions and guidance if companies should file patent applications while the old law is still in effect.