July 09, 2010
CONTACT: Peter Pappas or Jennifer Rankin Byrne
(571) 272-8400 or peter.pappas1@uspto.gov;
jennifer.rankin_byrne@uspto.gov
Press Release, 10-32
USPTO 2010-2015 Strategic Plan Available for Public Comment
Draft plan sets priorities to strengthen the USPTO, drive innovation
and support economic growth
Washington, D.C. – Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) David Kappos announced today that the USPTO’s draft Strategic Plan for fiscal years (FY) 2010-2015 is posted for public review and comment on the USPTO Web site at www.uspto.gov.
The draft 2010-2015 Strategic Plan sets out the USPTO’s mission-focused strategic goals: to optimize patent quality and timeliness; to optimize trademark quality and timeliness; and to provide global and domestic leadership to improve intellectual property (IP) policy, protection, and enforcement worldwide.
To achieve these goals, the plan identifies eight strategic priorities:
- Provide timely examination of patent applications by reducing the average time to first office action on the merits to 10 months, and average total pendency to 20 months.
- Improve the quality of patent and trademark examination.
- Improve and enhance the patent appeal and post-grant processes.
- Optimize trademark quality and maintain pendency.
- Demonstrate global leadership in all aspects of IP policy development.
- Improve information technology (IT) infrastructure and tools.
- Implement a sustainable funding model for operations.
- Improve relations with employees and stakeholders.
“We look forward to receiving feedback from our employees, stakeholders and the public on the USPTO’s draft Strategic Plan and welcome suggestions on how it can be enhanced,” said Under Secretary Kappos. “By working together, we can finalize and, most importantly, implement, a plan that will strengthen the USPTO, enhance the U.S. IP system and help drive innovation, job creation and economic growth.”
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO Sharon Barner added, “In view of the increased importance of intellectual property to the U.S. and world economies, it is critical that our Strategic Plan strengthen the USPTO, improve the quality of patents and trademarks issued and shorten the time it takes to get a patent. Our draft Strategic Plan lays out a sound strategy to achieve our goals, but we must have the input and support of our stakeholders to ensure success.”
Written comments should be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to strategicplan@uspto.gov by July 26, 2010. Comments may also be submitted by mail addressed to: The USPTO Strategic Plan Coordinator, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Candice Goodman. Although comments may be submitted by mail, submission via e-mail to the above address is preferable.
The written comments will be available for public inspection at the Office of Corporate Planning, Madison East, Room 7A15, Alexandria, VA 22314, and will be available via the USPTO Internet Web site (www.uspto.gov).
A final plan will be posted on the USPTO Web site by September 30, 2010.
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