Patent Office Loses $100 Million in Last-Minute Congressional Budget Change

[The Straight Story]

Patent Office Loses $100 Million in Last-Minute Congressional Budget Change
Monday, January 04, 2010

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it is patents that make new businesses a reality in a world of contracts and laws. Patent applications, however, are backing up at the federal office in charge of processing them, thanks to repeated budget cuts by Congress.

An investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in August found that Congress diverted monies intended for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from 1992 through 2004, leaving the agency incapable of keeping pace with the many applications it receives each year. With a backlog of 1.2 million applications, the Patent Office would need six years to get caught up—but that’s only if Congress fully funds it. Early last month, lawmakers stripped another $100 million from the agency’s budget. Patent examiners are leaving the office in droves (about 50 a month), and officials don’t have enough money to hire replacements.

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Patent_Office_Loses_100_Million_Dollars_in_Last_Minute_Congressional_Budget_Change_100104

[LiberalFighter]

1. Increase the fees based on type of application.

Individuals would have lower than businesses. Also, reduce fees when there are multiple applications. Have annual fees for those that want an annual subscription. In all cases the fees would be higher than what they are now.

[MercutioATC]

2. The fees are already prohibitive for a little guy with a great idea but no financial support.

Corporate patents sought by companies of a certain size? Absolutely. Raise the fees.

I actually think we should be encouraging innovation by reducing fees for individuals.

[elehhhhna]

3. Yep. Hubs gave up after years of tossing money at the PTO via fees &

lawyers.

[MercutioATC]

4. There's a guy at work who invented a tool.

Over the past 7 years, he's spent nearly $30k on patent-associated costs (fees and attorneys).

Most people would have been forced to give up by now.