The November 15, 2007 Press Release from the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) shows that there is an historic improvement in the quality of patent and trademark reviews and subsequently the quality of issued patents and registered trademarks. Here is some interesting statistics. In the year 2007, the USPTO,

• Examined 362,227 applications - the highest number in history.
• Quality compliance was 96.5 percent - equaling last year's results, the best in a quarter century.
• Patent examiner decisions were upheld by the USPTO's patent appeals board 69 percent of the time, up from 51 percent in 2005.

For the second year in a row, the USPTO has exceeded all of its trademark-related performance goals. The USPTO's trademark examining attorneys examined a record 323,527 applications and the quality was 97.4 percent and exceeded the fiscal year 2007 target.

To see the entire Press Release go to http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/07-46.htm

The US Patent Law is based on the utilitarian reasoning, which is to promote the progress of science and useful arts in general public interest. The eligibility criteria for patentability is that the invention should be useful, must be non obvious and novel with proper specifications.

Managed Outsource Solutions (MOS) is a US based legal outsourcing company that offers outsourced services in patent litigation support services, patent infringement litigation, (IP) Intellectual Property litigation, legal transcription, legal documentation and legal research for clients in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.

Labels: IP litigation, patents, trademarks, US patent and trade mark office, USPTO