On Monday, July 26, 1999, Acting Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Q. Todd Dickinson will take a major step toward putting the PTO in the vanguard of federal civilian agencies using distance learning to educate their stakeholders.

During a 1:00 p.m. ceremony at the Patent and Trademark Office, acting PTO Commissioner Dickinson will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. National Guard's Distributive Training Technology Project (DTTP) giving the agency access to DTTP's networked classrooms at sites across the country. DTTP sites are state-of-the art distance learning centers with computer-based training facilities, as well as video conferencing and teleconferencing capabilities.

Acting Commissioner Dickinson noted that "PTO's partnership with DTTP shows the commitment of the Clinton/Gore Administration to making government more accessible to Americans. This partnership will allow the agency to reach entrepreneurs nationwide by providing desktop access to valuable intellectual property related information through specially designed courseware. It will also support the agency's mission to enhance understanding and appreciation for the U.S. patent and trademark systems by making basic and advanced intellectual property information easily accessible to the general public."