![]() |
United States Patent and Trademark Office Performance and Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2003 Mangement Discussion and Analysis |
The Trademark Organization Whats AheadTrademarks will continue to move aggressively in the next year to implement the objectives of the 21st Century Strategic Plan by completing the redesign of its operations to implement e-Gov as the primary means of doing business with applicants and registrants, and as the sole means for processing work inside the examining operation. The Trademark Organization will complete a ten-year business process-reengineering plan to move Trademarks from primarily doing business with paper to doing business in an electronic environment with the implementation of electronic processing in FY 2004. Implementing an electronic file management system, in addition to our currently available electronic filing and information systems, permits:
As the reliance on paper disappears from internal processes, the cost for handling applications and related materials, along with the reliance on increasing numbers of employees or contractors to handle increases in filings, will be substantially reduced. Applicants will see improved quality as Trademarks moves to using data submitted or captured electronically to support examination and to publish documents and registrations. Electronic file management presents an opportunity for the USPTO to offer multiple options for filing that allow applicants to select the method of filing that best suits their business needs. The trademark user community will benefit from the introduction of the multi-track examination, included in pending fee legislation, which will provide trademark owners options for filing at lower fees than are available today. As described in the 21st Century Strategic Plan, the USPTO plans to implement the following programs in FY 2004 to focus on improving the quality of trademark examination:
The USPTO implemented the terms of the Madrid Protocol in FY 2004. The Protocol is a trademark filing treaty that currently includes 61 member countries. Under terms of the treaty, U.S. trademark owners will be able to file a single application with the USPTO in English, pay in U.S. dollars, and potentially have their mark protected in any or all of the countries that are members of the Protocol. Non-U.S. trademark owners of member countries may elect to seek an extension of protection of their international registration in the U.S. by filing through the International Bureau. |
Go to the Next Page in the Report > |
|