Management and Performance Challenges Identified by the Inspector General

Inspector General’s Statement Summarizing the Major Management and Performance Challenges Facing the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Jon W. Dudas
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property
Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

We are providing the management challenges for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Department of Commerce in accordance with the provisions of the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 (PL 106-531). Detailed information about our work is available on our website at:http://www.oig.doc.gov/.

Ensure That USPTO Uses Its Authorities and Flexibilities As A Performance-Based Organization To Achieve Better Results

Since March 2000 when the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act transformed USPTO into a performance-based organization designed to operate more like a private corporation than a government agency, OIG has paid close attention to a number of aspects of the organization’s internal management structures and practices.

At the same time, USPTO faces numerous challenges, such as a continuing increase in applications, training about 1,000 newly hired examiners in Patents and Trademarks, and transitioning to an electronic processing environment. In addition, USPTO’s expanded authority over personnel decisions and processes, procurement, and information technology operations needs to be effectively and efficiently utilized.

OIG has issued nearly a dozen reports examining problems at USPTO since 2001. The bureau has generally taken decisive action to address some problems we identified in the past, and we have been pleased that USPTO has been receptive to our recommendations. But ultimately, we believe that many of the problems USPTO suffers are serious and require the sustained commitment of senior managers to resolve. OIG will continue to monitor the bureau’s progress.

Johnnie E. Frazier
Inspector General

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