Patent offices are interesting places, at least I think so. I had the pleasure of visiting the main patent office a few times. And it's a trip - but one that had you traveling to Virginia. Well that's about to change. The USPTO is now opening four new regional USPTO offices in or around Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado, and Silicon Valley, California. And they have a satellite office due to open on July 13, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan.
What does this mean if you live near one of these offices. Jobs for one thing. Especially if you have an engineering degree. "By expanding our operation outside of the Washington metropolitan area for the first time in our agency's 200-plus year history, we are taking unprecedented steps to recruit a diverse range of talented technical experts, creating new opportunities across the American workforce," said David Kappos, Director of the USPTO.
I expect the new regional offices will provide lots of outreach services similar to the main office, where you can attend a patent clinic for free, get help cutting any red tape, and a whole lot of events that both educate and inspire.
Goody gumdrop, the USPTO is setting up satellite offices. More expense, more waste.
What about breaking the government monopoly by doing what the FAA did to licence pilots through what is known as the Designated Examiners program. If the government finds that the private sector is capable of examining the pilot flying humans around at 500 mph, surely it can do the same in examining a patent application.
All those thousands of new patent examiners on the government payroll can become private designated patent examiners. You’ll see patents being issued in 5 days, not 5 years.
Hmm private sector is not always the answer to all of society’s ills. The patent office is one branch of the gov that does make a profit.