January 26, 2012
Richard Maulsby or Paul Fucito
(571) 272-8400 or richard.maulsby@uspto.gov;
paul.fucito@uspto.gov
Press Release, 12-08
Deadline for Comments on Future Locations for USPTO Satellite Offices Approaches Monday, Jan. 30, 2012
Written comments must be received on or before deadline to ensure consideration
Washington – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a Federal Register Notice on November 29, 2011, seeking written comments on potential locations for additional USPTO satellite offices. The deadline for comments is Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
“We’re looking forward to reviewing community feedback on locations for Satellite Offices to recruit and retain top talent, and to better serve our applicant community,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos. ”We’re committed to conducting an open and transparent selection process that will ultimately yield the best locations for the USPTO and its user community.”
Subject to available resources and as provided for in the America Invents Act, the USPTO intends to establish at least two more satellite offices in addition to the one in Detroit in the next three years. In order for the USPTO to begin the process of selecting locations in addition to its Alexandria headquarters and the office planned for Detroit, written comments to the Notice must be received on or before Monday, January 30, 2012, to ensure full consideration. The USPTO is not extending the Jan. 30 deadline for written comments to the Notice.
Public comments should be submitted to satelliteoffices@uspto.gov or as otherwise dictated in the Federal Register Notice. Comments should provide information that supports the USPTO’s purposes of establishing satellite offices, including that the location will increase outreach activities to better connect patent filers and innovators with the offices, enhance patent examiner retention, and improve recruitment of patent examiners.
For non-press inquiries, contact Azam Khan, Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Patent and Trademark Office at azam.khan@uspto.gov.
Stay current with the USPTO’s implementation of the America Invents Act, including the satellite office provisions, by subscribing to receive e-mail updates. Visit our Subscription Center at www.uspto.gov/subscribe.
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