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Licensing Executives Society (USA and Canada) Urges Increased Funding for the U.S. Patent &Trademark Office to Help Reduce Patent Backlog and Spur Innovation

Friday, December 10, 2010

Washington, DC -- In the face of a persistently sluggish economy, the Licensing Executives Society, (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. today called for prompt passage of pending legislation to bolster funding for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in an effort to reduce patent pendency and backlog and speed much-needed innovations into the marketplace.

“Our patent system is a powerful economic engine. It fosters innovation, rewards investment in research and development and leads to the development of new industries, new businesses and new jobs. The full and effective funding of the USPTO is essential to maintaining the efficient operation of that engine,” LES (USA & Canada) President Michael Lasinski and Trustee for Public Policy Brian O’Shaughnessy said in letters to leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees.

LES (USA & Canada) urged “prompt passage” of pending legislation that would make appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and related Agencies. The Society noted that the USPTO is currently operating under H.J. Res. 101, which provides continued funding through December 18, 2010 -- but at last year’s levels – and voiced strong support for an anomaly to H.J. Resolution 101 that would fund the USPTO by providing for:

a temporary 15% surcharge on patent fees, provided the fee collections are available to the agency and without diversion to other agencies; and
a buffer sufficient to ensure USPTO access to all its user-fee derived revenue based on Fiscal 2011 fee projections.

LES (USA & Canada) members are representative of the USPTO user community. The Society is the preeminent professional organization for those engaged in the transfer, use, development and marketing of intellectual property. Its 5,000 members throughout the United States and Canada represent corporations, universities, government laboratories, entrepreneurs and inventors in every major technology-oriented industry. It is also a member of the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI), with a worldwide membership of over 11,000 members in 32 national societies, representing over 90 countries.

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