Performance and Accountability Report Fiscal Year 2006
Management's Discussion and Analysis

Mission and Organization of the USPTO

Mission Statement

The USPTO’s mission is to foster innovation and competitiveness by providing high quality and timely examination of patent and trademark applications, guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy, and delivering intellectual property information and education worldwide. Intellectual property includes inventions or creations embodied in the form of a patent, trademark, trade secret, or copyright.

Photo showing USPTO Director Jon Dudas speaking to managers during a management retreat. USPTO leaders worked on the agency's strategic plan for 2007-2012, among other issues.

USPTO Director Jon Dudas speaks to managers during a management retreat. USPTO leaders worked on the agency’s strategic plan for 2007-2012, among other issues.

For over 200 years, the core mission of the USPTO has remained the same: to promote the progress of science and the useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries (Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution). American industry has flourished under this system of protection as new products have been invented, new uses for existing inventions have been discovered, and employment opportunities have been created for millions of Americans. Customers are protected against confusion and deception in the marketplace, and businesses are given the enhanced protection of trademark rights and notices of the trademark rights claimed by others. Patents and trademarks have long protected American creativity and ingenuity. The first patent was issued in 1790 for a method of making potash fertilizer and the oldest active trademark was originally registered in 1884 for SAMSON, a design for “cords, lines, and ropes.”

The strength and vitality of our economy depends directly on effective mechanisms for protecting new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is at the cutting edge of our nation’s technological progress and achievement.

The primary services provided by the USPTO are examining patent and trademark applications, educating, and disseminating patent and trademark information. Through issuing patents, the USPTO encourages technological advancement by providing incentives to invent, invest in, and disclose new technology. Through registering trademarks, the USPTO assists businesses in protecting their investments, promoting quality goods and services, and safeguarding consumers against confusion and deception in the marketplace. In addition to the examination of applications to determine if they qualify for patent grants and trademark registrations, the USPTO provides technical advice and information to Executive Branch agencies on intellectual property matters and the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights. The USPTO also works with governments of other countries to establish regulatory and enforcement mechanisms that meet international obligations relating to the protection of intellectual property.

Location, Organizational Structure, and Workforce

Photo showing USPTO Director Jon Dudas congratulating Supervisory Patent Examiner Peter Paras, Jr. at an all-employee celebration of fiscal year 2006, a record-breaking year.

USPTO Director Jon Dudas congratulates Supervisory Patent Examiner Peter Paras, Jr. at an all-employee celebration of FY 2006, a record-breaking year.

The USPTO is an agency of the United States (U.S.) within the Department of Commerce (DOC). The USPTO is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and has two storage facilities located in Alexandria and Springfield, Virginia, as well as leased storage space in Boyers, Pennsylvania. At the end of FY 2006, the USPTO workforce was comprised of 8,189 federal employees, including 4,779 patent examiners and 413 trademark examining attorneys, and 3,817 contract employees.

The USPTO has evolved into a unique government agency. Since 1991—under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990—the USPTO has received fees from users to fund its operations. The USPTO is led by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO who consults with the Patent Public Advisory Committee and Trademark Public Advisory Committee. The USPTO has two major business lines – Patents and Trademarks – as shown in the following organization chart:

Fiscal year 2006 was a record-breaking year for the USPTO. For the third consecutive fiscal year, USPTO demonstrated consistent improvement in significant performance measures, including production and quality. In FY 2006, USPTO’s employees led the agency to meet 90% of our Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 goals, and 94% of overall reported goals. USPTO is a performance-based organization - and we’re proud that our emphasis on business-type metrics, goals, and an environment of accountability is leading us to historic successes. Of course, given USPTO’s responsibilities as a steward of the public trust, a business model has practical limits. While private businesses operate to maximize profits, the USPTO does not seek to profit maximization as, for example, by cutting unprofitable cost centers. We focus on responsible and efficient management of resources to ensure we achieve our most important goal: quality examination of patent and trademark applications. We are quality driven - not profit driven - and continue to use the best aspects of business models to provide outstanding patent and trademark examination, processing, and services.

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