07.24.12
USPTO Adds Satellite Offices
In accordance with the America Invents Act, the USPTO opened its first satellite patent office in Detroit, Mich., on July 13. The new Detroit patent office is the first ever U.S. Patent and Trademark Office outside the Washington, D.C., area and the first of four satellite patent offices planned to open in the next year. In early July, the USPTO announced its historic satellite patent office expansion and plans to open additional patent offices in Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; and Silicon Valley, Calif., by Sept. 16, 2014.
During the selection process for the four satellite patent offices, the USPTO considered geographic diversity, the availability to hire scientific and technical experts in the region, and economic impact to the region.
With these new satellite patent offices, the USPTO aims to streamline the patent filing process by establishing a localized connection with patent filers and innovators, decrease the backlog of nearly 700,000 patent applications waiting for examination, and improve the quality of patent examination. Medtech companies should benefit from the new satellite patent offices by having more opportunities to engage with USPTO patent examiners about their patent applications.
In accordance with the America Invents Act, the USPTO opened its first satellite patent office in Detroit, Mich., on July 13. The new Detroit patent office is the first ever U.S. Patent and Trademark Office outside the Washington, D.C., area and the first of four satellite patent offices planned to open in the next year. In early July, the USPTO announced its historic satellite patent office expansion and plans to open additional patent offices in Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; and Silicon Valley, Calif., by Sept. 16, 2014.
During the selection process for the four satellite patent offices, the USPTO considered geographic diversity, the availability to hire scientific and technical experts in the region, and economic impact to the region.
With these new satellite patent offices, the USPTO aims to streamline the patent filing process by establishing a localized connection with patent filers and innovators, decrease the backlog of nearly 700,000 patent applications waiting for examination, and improve the quality of patent examination. Medtech companies should benefit from the new satellite patent offices by having more opportunities to engage with USPTO patent examiners about their patent applications.