Office of the Administrator for External Affairs - Patents

The patent group of EA specializes in patent-related domestic and international policy and enforcement matters.  This group is tasked with ensuring implementation and adherence with international treaty obligations relating to patents and trade. The group is further responsible for advising on negotiations and monitoring enforcement of treaty provisions relating to patent and trade issues, as well as providing technical assistance and training on patent-related matters for both US and foreign officials.  For example, the patent group has been involved with the development, negotiation, and monitoring of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and the Patent Law Treaty (PLT). For further information on these issues and treaties, please visit the following links:

Budapest Treaty

Hague System for the International Deposit of Industrial Designs

International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants

Patent Cooperation Treaty

Patent Law Harmonization

Patent Law Treaty

Trade Secrets

Trilateral Activities

TRIPS: Trade-Related Aspects of IP Rights

Uruguay GATT Information

Worksharing