USPTO Performance and Accountability Report - U.S. Patent and ...

Strategic Goal 2: Optimize Trademark Quality and Timeliness
Trademarks perform a valuable function
by identifying the source of products and
services and serve as an indicator of reliable
quality to the consumer. By registering trademarks
and providing notice of marks in use, the
USPTO protects consumers and provides important
benefits to American businesses by allowing them to
strengthen and safeguard their brands and related
investments.
The Trademark organization has met and exceeded
its performance targets. Additional performance
targets and metrics are reported on a quarterly
basis throughout the year at the USPTO Data Visualization
Center – Trademark’s Dashboard (Figure 17)
is available at www.uspto.gov/about/stratplan/
dashboards.jsp. Reporting these metrics, along with
definitions, increases transparency as well as
providing a more useful and interactive dialog with
the IP community.
FIGURE 17 USPTO Data Visualization Center
– Trademark’s Dashboard
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Commissioner for Trademarks Deborah Cohn speaks
at the National Trademark Expo.
OBJECTIVE 1: Maintain trademark first action
pendency on average between 2.5-3.5 months
with 12.0 months for final pendency
The Trademark organization consistently met and
exceeded its pendency targets for first action and
final disposition. With final pendency less than
11 months – a sustained record low for the office – a
new application is registered or issued a notice of
allowance on average in less than a year. This rapid
processing allows applicants to act quickly on
marketing strategies and business plans. The examiner’s
first action is issued approximately three months
from the filing date, giving the applicant an important
early indication of registrability. First action pendency
has been consistently maintained between 2.5 and
3.5 months despite monthly variability in new application
filings.
Pendency has improved as electronic filing and
processing have become the primary means of
conducting business. Increased use of electronic
forms, particularly Trademark Electronic Application
System (TEAS) Plus, has improved the efficiency and
timeliness of examination. While 32 percent of new
applications are TEAS Plus filings, these applications
account for 49 percent of first action approvals – the
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