USPTO stands for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which is a separate entity from the U.S. Copyright Office. It is located in Alexandria Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. This one huge campus houses all the offices where issues regarding the regulation and issuance of patents and trademarks in the United States takes place. It is here that a registered patent attorney may actually meet with an examiner or have a ruling by an examiner overturned in what amounts to a trial.
Van Dyke Intellectual Property Law is uniquely positioned to be able to serve its clients by being geographically close to the USPTO. Meeting with examiners, instead of corresponding through email, letters, and phone conversations, can provide much greater insight on both sides that is advantageous to applicants. Proximity translates into more engagements, which translates into better results.
Further, Van Dyke Intellectual Property Law is able to meet and discuss issues with USPTO administrators, whether officially at hearings, or informally at educational and social events such as World IP Day where Raymond Van Dyke has been a frequent speaker. Such interactions help bring the issues affecting clients directly to the attention of those most likely to be able to implement changes.
Here is more information directly from the USPTO:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. In doing this, the USPTO fulfills the mandate of Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, of the Constitution that the legislative branch “promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” The USPTO registers trademarks based on the commerce clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect 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 the nation’s technological progress and achievement.
The USPTO advises the president of the United States, the secretary of commerce, and U.S. government agencies on intellectual property (IP) policy, protection, and enforcement; and promotes the stronger and more effective IP protection around the world. The USPTO furthers effective IP protection for U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide by working with other agencies to secure strong IP provisions in free trade and other international agreements. It also provides training, education, and capacity building programs designed to foster respect for IP and encourage the development of strong IP enforcement regimes by U.S. trading partners.
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