ABOUT

Reports > USPTO Annual Reports

Performance and Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2007
Management's Discussion and Analysis

Mission and Organization of the USPTO

Mission

The USPTO’s mission is to foster innovation and competitiveness by:

Providing high quality and timely examination of patent and trademark applications
Guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy
Delivering intellectual property information and education worldwide

Intellectual property (IP) includes inventions or creations embodied in the form of a patent, trademark, trade secret, or copyright. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends on effective mechanisms for protecting new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. In fulfilling the mandate of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, “to promote the progress of science and the useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries,” the USPTO is on the cutting edge of our nation’s technological progress and achievement.

Our Organization

The USPTO is an agency of the United States within the Department of Commerce (DOC). The Agency is led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for IP and Director of the USPTO who consults with the Patent Public Advisory Committee and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. The USPTO has two major business lines: Patents and Trademarks, as shown in the organization chart below. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the USPTO also has two storage facilities located in Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Photo showing Deputy Under Secretary Margaret Peterlin, along with National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation (NIHFF) Board President James Poolie, congratulating Dr. Robert Metcalfe (left) on his 2007 induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Honoring Great Minds — Deputy Under Secretary Margaret Peterlin, along with National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation (NIHFF) Board President James Poolie, congratulate Dr. Robert Metcalfe (left) on his 2007 induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. Metcalfe invented the Ethernet, the most widely used local area network. Working with the USPTO, the National Inventors Hall of Fame® honors people responsible for great technological advances that make human, social, and economic progress possible.

The USPTO has evolved into a unique government agency. In 1991 – under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990 – the USPTO became fully supported by user fees to fund its operations. In 1999, the American Inventors Protection Act established the USPTO as an agency with performance-based attributes; for example, a clear mission statement, measurable services and a performance measurement system, and predictable sources of funding.

The Patent organization examines inventor’s patent applications. Patent examiners compare the claimed subject matter of an application to a large body of technological information to determine whether the claimed invention is new, useful, and non-obvious to someone knowledgeable in that subject matter. Patent examiners also provide answers on applications appealed to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI), prepare initial memoranda for interference proceedings to determine priority of invention, and prepare search reports and international preliminary examination reports for international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The patent process also includes performing an administrative review of newly filed applications, publishing pending applications, issuing patents to successful applicants, and disseminating issued patents to the public.

The Trademark organization registers marks (trademarks, service marks, certification marks, collective membership marks) that meet the requirements of the Trademark Act of 1946, as amended, and provide notice to the public and businesses of the trademark rights claimed in the pending applications and existing registrations of others. The core process of the Trademark organization is the examination of applications for trademark registration. As part of that process, examining attorneys make determinations of registrability under the provisions of the Trademark Act, which includes searching the electronic databases for any pending or registered marks that are confusingly similar to the mark in a subject application, preparing letters informing applicants of the attorney’s findings, approving applications to be published for opposition, and examining statements of use in applications filed under the Intent-to-Use provisions of the Trademark Act.

Photo showing USPTO Office of Civil Rights employees Maria Hernandez and Darnella Boxley celebrating another successful Combined Federal Campaign. The USPTO raised more than $1.3 million for charities, reaching 113 percent of its goal. Eighty-seven percent of USPTO employees contributed.

Giving Back — USPTO Office of Civil Rights employees Maria Hernandez and Darnella Boxley celebrate another successful Combined Federal Campaign. The USPTO raised more than $1.3 million for charities, reaching 113 percent of its goal. Eighty-seven percent of USPTO employees contributed.

In registering trademarks, the USPTO assists businesses in protecting their investment, promotes quality goods and services, and safeguards consumers against confusion and deception in the marketplace. With notice readily available at www.uspto.gov, a business can make an informed decision when it wishes to adopt a new mark or expand the goods or services marketed under an existing mark. Federal registration provides enhanced protection for the owner’s investment in the mark and in the goods and services sold under the registered mark.

Domestically, the USPTO provides technical advice and information to executive branch agencies on IP matters and trade-related aspects of IP rights. Internationally, the USPTO works with foreign governments to establish regulatory and enforcement mechanisms that meet international obligations relating to the protection of IP.

Our People

At the end of fiscal year (FY) 2007, the USPTO work force was composed of 8,913 Federal employees (including 5,477 patent examiners, and 404 trademark examining attorneys).

Photo showing USPTO employees and contractors Suzanne Lo, Jasmine Clark, Stuart Drewry, Fei Yeung-Lopez, and Socheata Chap marching in the USPTO Community Day 'Parade of Fashions from around the World.'

Different Backgrounds, One Vision — USPTO employees and contractors Suzanne Lo, Jasmine Clark, Stuart Drewry, Fei Yeung-Lopez, and Socheata Chap march in the USPTO Community Day “Parade of Fashions from around the World.” Community Day highlights the inclusiveness of the USPTO’s work force and includes speeches, music, educational exhibits, and a car and motorcycle show.

Photo showing the USPTO campus in Alexandria, Virginia, that provides workspace for almost 9,000 employees.

Home away from Home — The USPTO campus in Alexandria, Virginia, provides workspace for almost 9,000 employees. Meanwhile, more than 3,000 USPTO employees work from home at least one day a week, making the agency a telework leader within the Federal Government.

< Previous Page | Next Page >

Is there a question about what the USPTO can or cannot do that you cannot find an answer for? Send questions about USPTO programs and services to the USPTO Contact Center (UCC). You can suggest USPTO webpages or material you would like featured on this section by E-mail to the webmaster@uspto.gov. While we cannot promise to accommodate all requests, your suggestions will be considered and may lead to other improvements on the website.