The White House announced President Barack Obama will this morning sign into law the America Invents Act, which aims to overhaul the U.S. patent system. 

Congress sent the act to Obama’s desk earlier this month. There is consensus that sweeping reform is needed, but the act itself is controversial. Critics say it doesn’t do enough to protect individual inventors and instead caters to corporations. 

Civil Beat previously took a look at what the act will mean for Hawaii. Read our earlier coverage.