The U.S. patent system helps inventors by giving them legal protection for their new ideas. This encourages people to invest in new technologies and keep innovation moving forward. Protecting the integrity of the U.S. patent system is of the utmost concern to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). To address this concern, the USPTO created the Patent Fraud Detection and Mitigation Working Group. More details of what this Working Group does are explained below.
The Working Group’s goal is to detect and mitigate threats to the patent system by:
- Identifying and reviewing potential misrepresentations to the USPTO, and when appropriate using the administrative sanctions process to address misrepresentations, including false signatures;
- Addressing mistakes in fee certifications and assertions;
- Monitoring suspicious filings;
- Preventing non-practitioners from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law;
- Serving as the main point of contact within the USPTO for reporting potential threats to the patent system; and
- Adapting USPTO systems and processes to respond to new schemes.
The USPTO is focused on ensuring that the public can rely on the integrity and veracity of the contents of patent application files.
