US Patent and Trademark Office

The USPTO was established by Congress. On the government's behalf, this office issues patents. In 1802, the Superintendent of Patents was in charge in issuing patents. And in 1836, the Patent Office reorganized because of come revisions in patent laws and the person in charge was now called Commissioner of Patents. This office remained under the Department of State, and in 1849 it was shifted to the Department of Interior. Today, the office is under the Department of Commerce. Way back in 1975, the name was changed to Patent and Trademark Office. Last year 2000, it was then changed to USPTO.

USPTO administers all patent laws. The office grants patents for new inventions, and performs duties that are related to patents. All patent applications are examined to determine if an applicant is entitled to a patent. After this, the office may grant or reject an application according to patent laws. It also reviews all trademark applications needed for a federal registration. It is the office that determines whether all the federal requirements are met by the applicant.

The USPTO serves the inventor's interests and businesses with due respect to inventions, service identifications, and other corporate products. The office also assists and advice the US President, Secretary of Commerce, and other government agencies on matters pertaining to intellectual property, both in the domestic and international aspects. The USPTO promotes technological and industrial progress of the entire nation and helps in strengthening the economy through the classification, preservation, and dissemination of all patent information.

Here the duties of the office pertaining to patents: examines applications, grants invention patents, publishes patent information, disseminates information, records patent assignments, maintains files of foreign and US patents, and maintains a website for the public. The office also provides training for practitioners. The office seeks preservation of the federal state's technical edge by protecting and encouraging intellectual endeavors, as well as technological progress. With regards to their trademark functions, it's a lot similar to the patent functions of the office.

Many people are not even aware of what a patent or a trademark is; a patent is a grant to the inventor of their property rights over their invention, and this is issued by the USPTO. The term usually starts after 20 years from the date of application. Maintenance fees must also be paid, and the grant is only effective within the US, its territories, and possessions. There are also circumstances when patent term adjustments and extensions maybe available. Patents come in three types: utility patents, plant patents, and design patents.

A trademark, on the other hand, is a name, word, device, or symbol used in trading of goods. This indicates where the goods are sourced and distinguish such goods from others. Trademark rights are used to stop others, especially competitors, to use a similar and confusing mark. You can register with the USPTO if you're going to use a trademark for foreign commerce or the interstate. 

Patent and trademarks are very different from each other. It is important that before making any application with the USPTO, you must know the difference between these two words. By doing a free search online, you can learn many things about what USPTO is, and their duties and responsibilities when it comes to patents and trademarks.

USPTO employees are there to aid you in the application of your patent or trademark. However, they can't perform other tasks including giving comments on a registered mark's validity, conduct public searches on patent and trademarks, answer eligibility questions pertaining to marks, and offer legal opinion or advice about trademark laws, patent laws, infringement claims, and state registrations.
