US FTC backs patent office move to promote competition

In the USA, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has  expressed support for a proposed rule to require the disclosure of all pre-institution patent settlement agreements.

Proposed by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO),  the change aims to enhance the monitoring and prevention of anticompetitive practices.

If enacted, the new rules would mandate parties to submit all patent settlement agreements, including collateral agreements, before the PTAB decides whether to institute a trial.