There’s good news in the IP law field for people who live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is opening a new branch in Dallas. Dallas is becoming known as a technology hub. Having an office in place will allow individuals to ask questions and work through patent and trademark office actions far more easily, and also create a lot of jobs.
A USPTO branch does more than just process paperwork. They also allow inventors and intellectual property attorneys first-hand access to patent examiners, the people responsible for determining whether or not something is actually patentable. It will also allow a location for patent trials and appeals. Before the opening of this branch, most people who wanted to consult with the USPTO had to make a trip to Washington D.C. to get in-person access.
While there will certain be job opportunities for those in the legal profession, the major winners will be people with STEM degrees. Patent examiners typically have degrees in these areas so they can properly evaluate patents. A position at the patent office can be used as a spring board to other companies who want people with experience working with patents. Initially there will be around 100 examiners but that number is expected to grow.
Two other new offices are expected to open further west. The new offices were established due to the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. This purpose of this act was to improve personal interaction between the USPTO and the nation’s inventors.
If you need IP law assistance, Greenberg & Lieberman are ready to assist with patents, trademarks, copyrights or trade secret contracts. We are located in Washington D.C., which helps us better serve our clients through access to the USPTO’s main office and the copyright office. For more information about how we can help, call us for a consultation.
