Director's Forum: David Kappos' Public Blog
Quality Continues to Rise
I thought I would return to the topic of patent quality, a topic that frankly can’t get enough attention. While speed is essential to a well-functioning USPTO, patent quality is the sine qua non of our success, and we are all deeply committed to ensuring patent quality. Since 2006, the USPTO has conducted a semi-annual External Quality Survey administered to practitioners and inventors who have had the most contact with the USPTO through the prior year. By incorporating their comprehensive feedback, we’re able to understand and respond to their concerns, and of course amplify those things we’re doing well.
Interestingly -- and positively -- per the most recent survey results, we are seeing a substantial positive shift in the public’s perception of overall examination quality.
The survey report, which we invite you to view, is based on a statistically-sound, neutral approach that collects a wide range of views on quality. We’re quite pleased to see that stakeholder perceptions of examination quality are the highest since the inception of the survey. The levels also represent significant changes compared to previous years.
How does this inform what we do? By incorporating this comprehensive feedback, we’re able to continually improve the quality of our efforts. For those who are satisfied we will do more of what is helping us turn out high quality work product. For those who are unsatisfied we will understand the root causes of their concerns and attempt to address those concerns.
As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome, on ways we can further improve quality, or any other topic.
Posted at 08:21AM Oct 06, 2011 in patents | Comments[3]
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Posted by Lawrence S. Cohen on October 14, 2011 at 06:21 PM EDT #
Posted by Irwin Weisel on November 01, 2011 at 07:00 AM EDT #
Posted by Lawrence S. Cohen on November 03, 2011 at 04:57 PM EDT #