USPTO Monthly Review -- April 2018

For only the second time in a hundred years, the USPTO has redesigned the patent grant cover. Often decorated with an iconic ribbon and seal, patent covers are what we generally think of as the physical award document issued to inventors. The USPTO unveiled the new cover design at this special South by Southwest (SXSW) event and discussed the significance and history of the document with intellectual property stakeholders and the press.

To learn more, watch the video.

The USPTO announced the exhibitors chosen for the 2018 National Trademark Expo, to be held at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution on July 27-28.

The two-day event helps support the mission of the Smithsonian Institution and the USPTO by educating the public about the history and value of trademarks and their importance to the global marketplace through informational seminars, children’s workshops, displays of authentic and counterfeit goods, and other exhibits featuring registered trademarks.

To learn more, read the press release.

The American patent system is as old as our nation. Our very first Congress passed the Patent Act of 1790. George Washington signed the first U.S. patent on July 31, 1790, to inventor Samuel Hopkins, for making potash.

After issuing patents for almost 228 years, we will grant patent number 10 million just a little bit later this year. Over that time, and backed by our patent system, American ingenuity has been at the forefront of every major scientific and technological revolution.

To learn more, read the remarks from USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

Every day, the USPTO’s patent examiners carefully review thousands of patent applications. Our examiners are nearly ten thousand men and women from all across America, with degrees in science and engineering. They examine the newest ideas and breakthroughs, any one of which could truly change the world.

Indeed, through U.S. history, inventors have transformed our society with their innovative ideas—their intellectual property. And they’ve protected them with patents.

To learn more, read the remarks from Commissioner for Patents Drew Hirshfeld.

The USPTO unveiled the new design of the patent grant cover during a special ceremony at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. The redesigned cover will debut on patent number 10 million, which is expected to issue sometime in 2018.

“This new patent design not only celebrates how far we’ve come and the new frontiers we have yet to explore,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Andrei Iancu. “It also represents the cornerstone and the currency of an American intellectual property system that has given so much to the world and will continue to do so for ages to come.”

To learn more, read the press release.

By the end of this week, I’ll have held the title Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO for more than six weeks. In that short time, apart from learning to say my whole title in one breath, I’ve learned a great deal about the day-to-day activities of the USPTO. From greeting examiners who arrive for work in my first week, to speaking to a group of over 700 managers and attending the African American Leadership Breakfast, it has been thrilling to learn more about what USPTO employees do every day.

Read the blog by Director Andrei Iancu.

As the senior advisor to the deputy commissioner of patent administration, I am responsible for tracking, analyzing, and providing advice and support on a full range of strategic, operational and policy initiatives and issues. Currently, I am on a special assignment as the acting director for the Office of Data Management, where I oversee the day-to-day operations of the patent publication process.

Read the blog by the Department of Commerce.

Earlier this year, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, announced the 2018 class of inductees.

These visionary innovators each patented inventions that revolutionized their industries and changed people’s lives. Of the fifteen new inductees, five will be honored posthumously.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame was established in 1973 by the USPTO and honors monumental individuals who have contributed great technological and scientific achievements and helped stimulate growth for our nation and beyond.

Read the blog by the Department of Commerce.

The customer partnership meeting was established to create a collaborative forum providing attendees with the opportunity to meet and share ideas, experiences, and insights with management from Technology Center 1700.

To learn more, view the presentation slides.

On March 13, Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality Valencia Martin Wallace held the third Patent Quality Chat in the 2018 webinar series titled Subject Matter Eligibility: Guidance & Examination Resources.

USPTO Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy Bob Bahr discussed available resources issued by the office on subject matter eligibility, with an emphasis on the latest revision of the MPEP from January. This webinar had a specific focus on prosecuting patent applications and statutory compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 101.

Patent Quality Chat is a monthly, lunchtime webinar series designed to provide information on patent quality topics and to gather public input.

To learn more about the March Patent Quality Chat, view the presentation slides. 

The USPTO and Texas Regional Office continued their participation in the world-famous South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival in Austin this year and continued to spread the word about intellectual property. This year, Regional Director Hope Shimabuku joined Jitendra Jain from the University of Texas at Austin and Mark Smith of Mark Andrew Smith PLLC to put on a panel titled IP to IPO: Integrating IP into your Strategy. In this session, attendees learned how to integrate an IP strategy into an overall business plan and asked questions one-on-one with subject matter experts.

To learn more, listen to the archived recording.

“America’s 10 millionth patent starts a whole new trend”
Lance Ulanoff, Medium

“Patent Office Unveils New Grant Cover at SXSW Ceremony”
Lance Murray, Dallas Innovates

“USPTO Redesigns Patent Covers For 10 Millionth Patent”
Steven Trader, Law 360

“Iancu admits concerns over PTAB perception problems; says eligibility and predictability will be key priorities”
Richard Lloyd, IAM

“How USPTO’s Jill Leyden helps the trademarking process walk the line between legal and personable
Samantha Ethlinger, Fedscoop

“GOVERNMENT ON DEMAND: .GOV SERVICES AT .COM SPEED”
Booz Allen Hamilton

“USPTO Pilots Program to Challenge Doctored Specimens”
National Law Review

“National Archives Shares Hall-of-Famers’ Baseball-Related Patents”
Kerri Lawrence, National Archives News