The AIPA, Title VI, Subtitle G, the Patent
and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, established the USPTO as an agency
of the U.S., within Commerce, on March 29, 2000. The legislation provides
for appointment of a Commissioner for Patents as the Chief Operating Officer
for Patents, and a Commissioner for Trademarks as the Chief Operating
Officer for Trademarks. It also requires that an annual performance agreement
be established between the Commissioners and the Secretary of Commerce.
The agreement outlines measurable organizational goals and objectives
for the organization. The Commissioners may be rewarded a bonus, based
upon an evaluation of their performance as defined in the agreement, of
up to 50 percent of their base salary.
The Trademark organization goals and the agency performance plan formed
the foundation for the annual performance agreement between the Commissioner
for Trademarks and the Secretary of Commerce, as required by the AIPA.
The performance agreement outlined measurable organizational goals and
objectives for the Trademark organization based on the above goals and
performance measures. All nine of the trademark performance measures included
in the agency performance plan were met for a score of 100 percent. The
commissioner’s performance for the past year had not been evaluated
at the time that this report was completed.
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