Doing Business with the Patent and Trademark Office
The agency, a bureau of the Commerce Department, administers patent and trademark law and distributes information on them.
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Address
Patent and Trademark Office
2121 Crystal Dr., Crystal Park II
Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 305-8600
www.uspto.gov
Founded
1802, although the first patent was issued in 1790
Who's in charge
James Rogan
Employees
Approximately 5,000
What it does
The agency, a bureau of the Commerce Department, administers patent and trademark law and distributes information on them. It advises the administration and the Commerce secretary on protection of patents and trademarks and on trade-related aspects of intellectual property.
The budget
2002 budget: $1.12 billion
2003 request: $1.36 billion
Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, the Patent and Trademark Office has operated much like a private business, providing products and services in exchange for fees that are used to fund operations. The fiscal 2003 fee schedule went into effect Jan. 1 and can be found at http:// www.uspto.gov/go/fees/fee 20030101.htm.
The Web site
The PTO web site appears to answer just about any question one might have about what business is available and how to get that process going. I found this information easily on the homepage under "select a search collection," which features a pulldown menu; choose "business opportunities -- procurements."
Patent and Trademark has embarked on its "21st Century Strategic Plan," which, within five years, will correct numerous problems Congress found with the office, including quality, patent and trademark pendency times, the need for better training and retention and productivity in the examiner work force, among others.
Details can be found here.
Things to note
Patent and Trademark has embarked on its "21st Century Strategic Plan," which, within five years, will correct numerous problems Congress found with the office, including quality, patent and trademark pendency times, the need for better training and retention and productivity in the examiner work force, among others. Details can be found here.
Anyone can visit the monuments in Washington. For something different, check out the USPTO Museum. The current featured exhibition is "Trademarks: The Fingerprints of Commerce," which highlights some of this country's most famous trademarks: Warner Brothers, Goodyear, Coca Cola, AT&T and McDonald's, among many. The museum is at the headquarters and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, visit:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/opa/museum/index.html.
Title
Chief information officer
Took the job
May 2001
Hometown
"My father was in the military, so I have a few answers: born in New Orleans; I consider Vacaville, Calif., to be my home because I went to high school there."
Home now
Virginia
Family
Wife, three children
Hobbies
"That's the toughest question on here ... either playing with my children or working."
Last book read
"Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... and Others Don't," by Jim Collins.
Currently reading
"Patent Law Essentials"
Alma mater
Bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, master of business administration degree from Tulane University
Interview:
WT: What are the IT challenges the agency faces, as you see them?
Bourgeios: Challenges also equal opportunities, but I'd say the most significant challenge we face is the migration of the office to electronic government. From a technology standpoint, that involves a lot, including delivering on the applications, but also migrating the infrastructure to support the new business model, if you will. That is the first one, and we've made a lot of progress. We have a pilot project under way this month on a paperless process for the patent business. We're using software from the European Patent Office to accomplish this in an accelerated fashion.
WT: How did you find the software?
Bourgeios: We have a partnership with the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office that combines the best practices, ideas, plans and things we're working on to try and improve the overall global patent system.
WT: What do you look for in companies with which you are thinking of doing business?
Bourgeios: It's always been important, but since the dot-com bust, stability is one of the top things we look for, make sure we enter into a relationship that will last as long as we need it. Of course, track record of success, doing the kinds of things that we need them to do or in the technologies that we're signing them up for the expertise. ... Another piece is the corporate strategy here. We look for 8(a) status, in terms of being a small business or minority owned business. We encourage and do business with these companies as often as is practical to do so.
Address
Patent and Trademark Office
2121 Crystal Dr., Crystal Park II
Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 305-8600
www.uspto.gov
Founded
1802, although the first patent was issued in 1790
Who's in charge
James Rogan
Employees
Approximately 5,000
What it does
The agency, a bureau of the Commerce Department, administers patent and trademark law and distributes information on them. It advises the administration and the Commerce secretary on protection of patents and trademarks and on trade-related aspects of intellectual property.
The budget
2002 budget: $1.12 billion
2003 request: $1.36 billion
Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, the Patent and Trademark Office has operated much like a private business, providing products and services in exchange for fees that are used to fund operations. The fiscal 2003 fee schedule went into effect Jan. 1 and can be found at http:// www.uspto.gov/go/fees/fee 20030101.htm.
The Web site
The PTO web site appears to answer just about any question one might have about what business is available and how to get that process going. I found this information easily on the homepage under "select a search collection," which features a pulldown menu; choose "business opportunities -- procurements."
Patent and Trademark has embarked on its "21st Century Strategic Plan," which, within five years, will correct numerous problems Congress found with the office, including quality, patent and trademark pendency times, the need for better training and retention and productivity in the examiner work force, among others.
Details can be found here.
Things to note
Patent and Trademark has embarked on its "21st Century Strategic Plan," which, within five years, will correct numerous problems Congress found with the office, including quality, patent and trademark pendency times, the need for better training and retention and productivity in the examiner work force, among others. Details can be found here.
Anyone can visit the monuments in Washington. For something different, check out the USPTO Museum. The current featured exhibition is "Trademarks: The Fingerprints of Commerce," which highlights some of this country's most famous trademarks: Warner Brothers, Goodyear, Coca Cola, AT&T and McDonald's, among many. The museum is at the headquarters and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, visit:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ahrpa/opa/museum/index.html.
Doug Bourgeois
Henrik G. de Gyor
Chief information officer
Took the job
May 2001
Hometown
"My father was in the military, so I have a few answers: born in New Orleans; I consider Vacaville, Calif., to be my home because I went to high school there."
Home now
Virginia
Family
Wife, three children
Hobbies
"That's the toughest question on here ... either playing with my children or working."
Last book read
"Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... and Others Don't," by Jim Collins.
Currently reading
"Patent Law Essentials"
Alma mater
Bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, master of business administration degree from Tulane University
Interview:
WT: What are the IT challenges the agency faces, as you see them?
Bourgeios: Challenges also equal opportunities, but I'd say the most significant challenge we face is the migration of the office to electronic government. From a technology standpoint, that involves a lot, including delivering on the applications, but also migrating the infrastructure to support the new business model, if you will. That is the first one, and we've made a lot of progress. We have a pilot project under way this month on a paperless process for the patent business. We're using software from the European Patent Office to accomplish this in an accelerated fashion.
WT: How did you find the software?
Bourgeios: We have a partnership with the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office that combines the best practices, ideas, plans and things we're working on to try and improve the overall global patent system.
WT: What do you look for in companies with which you are thinking of doing business?
Bourgeios: It's always been important, but since the dot-com bust, stability is one of the top things we look for, make sure we enter into a relationship that will last as long as we need it. Of course, track record of success, doing the kinds of things that we need them to do or in the technologies that we're signing them up for the expertise. ... Another piece is the corporate strategy here. We look for 8(a) status, in terms of being a small business or minority owned business. We encourage and do business with these companies as often as is practical to do so.