US lawmakers introduce bill to block Chinese entities, 'deemed threat', from obtaining US patents
Washington DC, June 10
Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China, along with Congressmen Scott Fitzgerald and Darrell Issa, has introduced legislation aimed at preventing Chinese entities deemed a threat to US national security from obtaining American patents in the United States, according to a release.
The proposed legislation, titled the Prohibiting Adversarial Patents Act, would prohibit the issuance of US patents to individuals or entities identified as national security threats under the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex (CMIC) List, the 1260H List, or the Federal Communications Commission's Covered List.
According to the press release issued by the House Select Committee on China, the legislation seeks to address concerns that the Chinese Communist Party is using the US patent system to advance its economic and strategic interests. Moolenaar said the measure would strengthen safeguards against what he described as attempts by the CCP to exploit American innovation and use the legal system to pursue patent-related litigation against US companies.
Fitzgerald said the bill would help prevent hostile foreign entities from leveraging the American patent system to gain economic advantages and undermine US national security.
Issa argued that companies linked to the CCP should not be allowed to benefit from intellectual property protections in the United States while acting against American interests.
The legislation has also received backing from the High Tech Inventors Alliance (HTIA). According to the committee's press release, the organisation said the bill would help stop entities identified as national security threats from accumulating and using US patents against critical sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
The committee highlighted Huawei and ZTE as examples of Chinese companies with substantial patent holdings in the United States. Huawei ranked fourth in the number of US patents granted in 2025 and reported more than USD 630 million in patent licensing revenue during the year, while ZTE ranked fifth in US patents related to 5G technology in 2024, the committee said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an Indian, I see both sides. China has indeed been aggressive in using patents strategically, especially in telecom. But this US bill feels protectionist and could backfire. Maybe India should watch closely and learn how to protect our own IP interests without being too reactionary. Balance is key.
This is exactly the kind of techno-nationalism that hurts global innovation. Instead of blocking patents, why not focus on strengthening patent examination processes? Huawei and ZTE have legitimately earned many of those US patents through R&D. This law would punish innovation based on nationality, not merit.
From a business perspective, this is very shortsighted. Global patent systems rely on reciprocity. If the US blocks Chinese companies, China will likely retaliate against US firms operating there. American tech giants like Apple and Qualcomm have massive patent portfolios in China. This could trigger a patent war nobody wins.
As someone working in tech, I find this concerning. Chinese companies contribute significantly to R&D in areas like AI and semiconductors. Blocking them from US patents won't stop their innovation - it will just push them to build parallel systems. The world doesn't need two incompatible patent regimes. 😕
Respectfully, this bill seems more about geopolitics than genuine IP protection. The US patent system has always been open to all who meet the criteria. Targeting specific countries sets a bad example. India should take note - we need strong patent laws that are fair and not weaponized for political purposes.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.