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Yesterday, the USPTO sent a message to employees that due to congressional budget cuts, it will have to cancel or cutback several new programs, including two really great ideas.
The Track One expedited examination program, previously scheduled to start up on May 4, 2011, is indefinitely postponed. The USPTO was going to allow new applicants to speed up the patent examination process in exchange for big money (not really, just $4,000 plus the typical fees, etc.). In most cases, the new prioritized examination program would have resulted in a final answer within 12 months of filing. Published in the April 4, 2011 edition edition of the Federal Register, the rule would have implemented the first track of a three-track examination process.
This would have been a great program, and would have been a proving ground for an alternative to the one-size-fits-all tracking we have today. Other jurisdictions have moved ahead with similar programs, and we should be leading in this area, not quitting.
If that isn’t frustrating enough, and in yet another blow to the city whose fame is now based on bulldozing historic buildings and making Robocop come true, the once-hailed Detroit satellite office (Tactical IP article here) has also been nixed . For now, perish the thought of other satellite offices in Melbourne, Florida or Seattle, Washington, or anywhere else. The PTO had planned to employ 100 patent examiners in the Detroit office by summer 2011 — a God send for out of work but emminently useful engineers. Those of us on Florida’s Space Coast were holding out hope that a local office would be here sooner rather than later. I’m still hopeful that we’ll get one, but the wait will be longer.
Last but not least, and most relevant to the here and now, new examiner hiring is frozen and examiner overtime is suspended. The backlog seems likely to remain constant or get worse, unless new efficiencies are found or quality cuts made.
Peace out innovation! Goodbye new jobs created by awesome new inventions! Hello continued stagnation and exaggerated negativity! All hail stagnation!
Comments
Posted On
Apr 22, 2011Posted By
Scott NymanWhat an absolute shame. I don’t know whether I feel worse for our nation’s inventors or the City of Detroit.
Posted On
Apr 22, 2011Posted By
markmalekAAAAGGGHHH!!! Nice job you clowns in DC! How is this a good idea. I can’t believe that the PTO is taking a hit, especially since they are self sufficient. So much for “no fee diversion.”
Posted On
Apr 22, 2011Posted By
Aaron ThalwitzerThis would have been the best kind of stimulus: it solves longstanding problems, creates present and future growth, and is basically self-funding. Why, cruel world, WHY?
Posted On
Apr 25, 2011Posted By
patent litigationWhat a shame about the delay in opening the Detroit satellite office, as well as the rumored Silicon Valley patent office.
Posted On
Apr 27, 2011Posted By
HeatherSAVE DETROIT!
Posted On
May 02, 2011Posted By
patent litigationIt’s utterly shameful that the patent office has had to suspend implementation of the Track One program. The initiative could go far to increase much-needed revenue for the woefully-underfunded agency, bite into its crushing backlog, help innovators get their inventions to market, and, as a result, reduce U.S. unemployment. And now that rumors predict the death of yet another patent reform bill, it looks like USPTO staff will have to go back to the drawing board in finding sufficient revenue to operate properly. What a disgrace.