U.S. blocks patents for Chinese military-linked companies, protects tech advantage

What it does

This bill bars entities on three U.S. government lists of Chinese military-linked companies from obtaining new U.S. patents and makes any patents they already hold unenforceable. The President may waive the ban for 180-day periods if he determines no essential security interest is at stake and reports his reasoning to Congress. The bill does not prevent these entities from filing patent applications or affect the ownership or term of patents they already own—only their ability to receive new patents and enforce existing ones.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to deny patent rights to foreign military entities identified by executive order and statute, a targeted national-security measure rather than a broad patent-law reform or industry carve-out.

What the text implies

• The bill's effect depends entirely on the accuracy and currency of three government lists (NS-CMIC, DoD military company report, FCC communications equipment list). If those lists are outdated, overly broad, or include entities that do not pose genuine security threats, the patent ban may sweep in companies that should not be restricted.
• The President's waiver authority is broad and requires only a 30-day notice to Congress; Congress has no veto power. A President could systematically waive the ban for strategic or diplomatic reasons, potentially undermining the bill's security intent.
• The bill does not affect patent applications, examination, or ownership—only issuance and enforceability. A listed entity could still file applications, receive examination, and own patents; it simply cannot enforce them. This creates a gap: the entity retains the patent as an asset but cannot sue for infringement, potentially creating disputes over the practical value of the patent.
• The bill applies to subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, and assigns of listed entities. This broad definition may inadvertently capture U.S. or allied companies that have legitimate business relationships with listed entities, creating compliance uncertainty.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill restricts patent rights for entities identified as threats to U.S. national security, reducing the risk that sensitive technologies developed by American inventors and companies will be patented and enforced by Chinese military-linked actors. This protects U.S. technological advantage and security without restricting the rights of U.S. citizens or domestic companies.

Who stands to gain

• U.S. technology companies and defense contractors (reduced competition from Chinese military-linked
• U.S. patent holders in sensitive sectors (reduced risk of technology transfer through patent licensi

Named in the bill

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Department of the Treasury, Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List (NS-CMIC List), Executive Order 14032, William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, Patent Prosecution Highway Program, Committee on the Judiciary (Senate and House)

Where it stands

3 cosponsors: 2 Republicans, 1 Democrats.

• Jun 4, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jun 4, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 lobbying clients named this bill on 5 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $10,740,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 39 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.

Scott Fitzgerald, the sponsor, reported $897,000 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America — $7,360,000 on 1 filing
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization — $2,360,000 on 1 filing
• Gsk (fka Glaxosmithkline Inc.) — $890,000 on 1 filing
• High Tech Inventors Alliance — $70,000 on 1 filing
• Itc Modernization Alliance — $60,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.