These are small reforms, but definitely steps in the right direction.



Patent Office tries "Stack Overflow for patents" to find prior art:

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/09/patent-office-tries-stack-overflow-for-patents-to-find-prior-art/


Patents to the people: US Patent and Trademark Office sends staffer to live among NYC startups:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/2/3444814/uspto-david-kappos-cornell-nyc-america-invents-act