May 01, 2002
#02-31
USPTO Explores Outsourcing International Patent Examination Functions
USPTO Explores Outsourcing International Patent Examination Functions
PRESS RELEASE
Initiative would improve patent quality, increase productivity,
and advance the President's Management Agenda
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has launched a study to
identify organizations able to process international patent
applications. This year, USPTO expects to receive 46,000
requests to search and/or examine international applications.
USPTO's patent examiners now do this work, which is in addition
to the 350,000 U.S. applications the agency receives each year.
With competent private contractors processing international
applications, patent examiners could focus on U.S.
applications, thus enhancing quality and improving
productivity.
USPTO searches and examines international patent applications
under the common standards of the Patent Cooperation Treaty
(PCT), an international pact that simplifies filing a patent
application in its 115 member nations. The international
application may be used as a national application for a patent
in any of the designated PCT countries. International
applicants request PCT-related search and examination reports
to help them determine if an application meets basic patent
criteria, such as novelty and non-obviousness, before
committing to the high cost of translating and filing an
application in one or more PCT countries. Additional
information on this Request for Information can be found at:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/comp/proc/srchexam/schexrfi.htm
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