When did the Patent Law Treaties and Implementation Act become effective?

The Patent Law Treaties and Implementation Act became effective on December 18, 2013. This legislative act was significant because it implemented certain provisions from international treaties aimed at harmonizing patent application procedures, specifically the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) and the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs. The effective date of December 18, 2013, reflects the time these changes were integrated into U.S. patent law, enhancing the efficiency and predictability of patent application processing together with aligning the United States with international standards. The timing was critical for addressing procedural elements in patenting that had previously varied greatly and might have created challenges for applicants seeking patent protections across multiple jurisdictions.