USPTO

Did you know that IP offices around the world collaborate year-round to tackle our toughest, shared challenges in IP? Recently, USPTO Commissioner for Patents, Vaishali Udupa and a team of senior staff met with senior officials from European Patent Office and Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA) in Munich, Germany to discuss challenges and opportunities related to improving patent pendency and customer experience. They also addressed the USPTO’s guidance on AI and explored new, innovative tools to support domestic and international filing processes. We look forward to continuing these productive discussions with EPO officials in the near future. The USPTO delegation also hosted a listening session with local stakeholders, BMW and Siemens, two of the largest companies in the region that hold U.S. patents. We extend a huge thank you to our counterparts and to our customers for graciously hosting us. See you again soon!

Questions about trademarks? We have answers! Join our experts tomorrow for an interactive Question and Answer session. 🗓️ August 27 🕑 2 p.m. 💻 Register: https://bit.ly/3LgUp5r

We offer support and opportunities to connect throughout all levels. 🙌 The Supervisory Patent Examiners and Classifiers Organization (SPECO) is a Voluntary Employee Organization open to managers in Patents. SPECO hosts social, education, and other outreach events, including participating in a team that creates LEGO experiments and introduces local students to the joys of science. SPECO also recognizes exceptional leaders with the annual Norman Morgenstern award. 🏆 Eileen Lillis of the Central Reexamination Unit received the 2024 award. Eileen’s contributions to the agency have been numerous and varied, including serving at the Patent Training Academy, working hand-in-hand with our patent professionals union, and acting as a Workforce Management Advisor. #TeamUSPTO

Servicemembers who relentlessly hustle to adapt and overcome and get the job done – we see you. The skills you develop in the military can help you as you transition into the civilian workforce as an entrepreneur or business owner. Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property spoke with Military One Source about the agency’s efforts supporting servicemembers and their families. “We’re really the agency that can help you harness all those great skills that you earned in the military or as a military spouse, and put it to really great use an entrepreneur or innovator,” she said. Listen to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3Ak43Cb

Servicemembers who relentlessly hustle to adapt and overcome and get the job done – we see you. The skills you develop in the military can help you as you transition into the civilian workforce as an entrepreneur or business owner. USPTO Director Kathi Vidal spoke with Military One Source about the agency’s efforts supporting servicemembers and their families. “We’re really the agency that can help you harness all those great skills that you earned in the military or as a military spouse, and put it to really great use an entrepreneur or innovator,” she said. Listen to the podcast: https://bit.ly/3Ak43Cb

WOO-HOO! 🎢 Whether you prefer loops, corkscrews, or drops, thrill seekers can’t resist these rides. Your career can be just as exciting, although hopefully easier on your stomach.  With robust training and leadership development programs, opportunities for temporary assignments, career mentorship and coaching options, our agency makes sure team members are supported as they roll and coast.  Where is your favorite roller coaster? Or do you prefer your feet planted firmly on the ground?  Either way, you can find a thrill-seeking career here at the USPTO: https://bit.ly/3aT9c3e. 

On August 1, 2024, the USPTO was notified and verified that certain protected information within the assignments page of Patent Center was potentially accessible to the public through certain search functions. Read more in our Official Gazette notice: https://bit.ly/3M6bpM3

Patents by majority female inventor teams are cited in patent applications less often than patents by majority male inventor teams, according to new research from the USPTO. The USPTO’s new working paper, “Untapped Potential: Investigating Gender Disparities in Patent Citations,” explores why majority female inventor teams receive up to 22% fewer citations than patents by majority male inventor teams. The research also addresses gender disparity’s impact on future patents and potential impacts on innovation more broadly. Researchers found the gap is primarily driven by applicant-added citations, rather than those added by patent examiners. It’s likely exacerbated by the tendency of patent applicant teams to cite patents by inventors of the same gender. Researchers also noted patents by majority female inventor teams are less likely to be further developed, so they’re less frequently compared to patents granted to majority male inventor teams. Check out the research at https://bit.ly/2WxfHpA.

Legal eagles swooped into D.C. for the Lavender Law conference last week, and we were there to encourage them to land here. 🦅 Lavender Law is the largest legal conference in the country for LGBTQ professionals, students, and allies. Attorneys seeking a unique legal career with great flexibility love working at the USPTO. Learn more about our trademark examining attorney career field: https://lnkd.in/dsrupvK.

USPTO's Women's Entrepreneurship initiative is empowering women founders across America to fund their startups, protect their businesses, and expand their networks. Explore our resources: uspto.gov/initiatives/we