US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Announces Program to Aid Small and Medium Businesses
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) director, David Kappos, has announced that his organization will be rolling out a program designed specifically to aid small and medium businesses in obtaining patents more quickly. He attributed the decision to his belief that the USPTO needs to maintain a strong relationship with small innovators. Specifically, the USPTO has designed a program that will fast-track the patent process for independent inventors. The program will only be offered to small and medium sized businesses, and will have the added effect of easing the backlog of patent applications at the USPTO. Under the program, companies can take advantage of the new, accelerated status only by abandoning currently unexamined applications that they have already filed. The USPTO believes this will help small and medium businesses self-select which patent application are the most important to them. Kappos stated that the USPTO would work simultaneously to streamline their approval processes to further relieve the backlog. Kappos also said that he is eager to hear opinions from independent investors on how to make the patent system work better for them. He will be working in tandem with the US Congress to institute patent reform. A level playing field for small and medium businesses when it comes to patents will provide an incentive that promotes innovation. You can read more about the patent reforms and how they will impact small and medium businesses at USPTO in small business patent pledge. If you have an idea for a patent, please contact Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. for legal counsel.
