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

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
In conjunction with Community Day, OEEOD
conducted focus group sessions with a variety of
diverse employee groups (Hispanics, African-Americans,
Multi-generational, and Veterans) to engage
them about their concerns and ideas for improving
the agency. OEEOD contracted with the Ivy Group, a
recognized leader in the focus group facilitation field,
to synthesize feedback and present recommendations.
The information received via the focus groups
has already been instrumental in working with the
OHR to improve service to veterans and is informing
other diversity and inclusion projects.
Providing Information and Feedback Channels
for Employees and the Public
The USPTO continues to support the independent
inventor community and enhanced its efforts with
the Office of Innovation Development (OID), administratively
situated within the Patent organization.
The OID serves a key role in promoting innovation
and technology creation in the United States. The OID
oversees programs that foster and support innovation
in the independent inventor communities,
universities, and non-profit organizations. The OID
also works closely with other officials and agencies
throughout the government in support of the Obama
administration’s efforts to promote small business,
entrepreneurship, and job creation. The OID designs
and implements outreach programs to a wide range
of groups including independent inventors, women,
small business concerns, minorities, and other underserved
communities. As part of this year’s effort, the
OID held a Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium
and a California Regional Inventors Conference.
The USPTO also participates in outreach initiatives
with inventor organizations throughout the United
States. These non-profit inventor organizations assist
inventors with their innovations and their desire to
start a business based on those inventions.
The USPTO created a Trademark Outreach Manager
in response to recommendations made as a result
of the congressionally mandated Litigation Study.
The Manager works with trademark and non-trademark
attorneys, the small business and entrepreneurial
community, and students to develop
PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT: FISCAL YEAR 2012
Under Secretary David Kappos, Chief Communications
Officer Todd Elmer, and The Honorable Chief Judge
James Smith answer questions during the America
Invents Act webinar on September 6, 2012.
strategies that focus on educational activities, and
policing measures. A number of sessions have
been held to address the importance of IP early in
business development planning.
The USPTO encouraged the establishment of pro
bono IP services through universities and law associations.
In all cases, the USPTO played an instrumental
role in the development of concepts and finding
partners. The USPTO acts as an information conduit
for independent inventors through our website and
outreach events. There are 13 universities currently
offering IP law clinics on IPR education aimed at
independent inventors and small businesses. The IP
law clinics will also provide basic IP education. A first
pilot program was launched in 2010 in Minnesota by
an association of law offices and private companies
to assist individuals and small businesses with certain
financial needs to protect their valuable inventions
and innovations. This program, in conjunction with
the OID, continues to offer education and guidance
to new and financially disadvantaged inventors.
Independent inventors can work directly with experts
to gain assistance in filing a new application or
improving their existing applications.
Implementation of the Patent Ombudsman Program
was a direct response to the public’s request for a
dedicated resource providing assistance to patent