The Nature of the Training Provided to USPTO Examiners
Achieving organizational excellence demands
a high performance workforce that delivers high quality work products
and provides customer service excellence. Training is a critical component
in achieving consistently high quality products and services.
Patent examiners and Trademark examining attorneys received extensive
legal, technical and automation training in FY 2005. The USPTO has a comprehensive
training program for new patent examiners and trademark examining attorneys,
embedding a well-established curriculum including initial legal training,
automation training and training in examination practice and procedure.
Automation training is provided to all examiners on an as-needed basis;
more than 260 automation classes were conducted on Patent examination
tools. New technology-specific legal and technical training was conducted
throughout the examining operations. This specific training either focuses
on practices particular to a technology or was developed to address training
needs identified through Patent and Trademark examination reviews or staff
requests.
The USPTO training staff works one-on-one with the Patent and Trademark
business units to address specific training concerns and serve as consultants
to design specific internal programs to fit the education needs of each
business unit. Training is reviewed and evaluated on an ongoing basis
to ensure it is up-to-date and that coursework reflects developments and
changes that have taken place in the industry. In FY 2005, the USPTO continued
to expand training opportunities by developing additional computer based
training and instructional videos.
In FY 2005 in the Trademark organization, data gathered from the results
of quality reviews were analyzed and used to prepare the content of online
e-learning training materials for trademark examining attorneys. Seven
e-learning modules have been developed in Trademarks.
- Concurrent User Applications (released)
- Section 2(d) - Likelihood of Confusion - Weak and Diluted Marks (released)
- Section 2(a): Scandalous and Disparaging Marks (released)
- Amendments to Goods and Services - Are They Within The Scope? (released)
- Section 2(d) - Likelihood of Confusion - Relatedness of Goods and
Services: A General Framework (completed, not released)
- Section 2(d) - Likelihood of Confusion - Relatedness of Goods and
Services: Evidence (completed, not released)
- Section 2(d) - Likelihood of Confusion - Relatedness of Goods and
Services: Food and Beverages Goods and Services (completed, not released)
Reviewers continue to gather data regarding dozens of examination issues
on each file they review. In FY 2005, the Patent organization developed
a database for the management of review findings that will provide managers
with ready access to review results to better identify training needs
and assist individual examiners in gaining enhanced skills and improving
quality.
|
