– Location:
– Coordinates: 38°48′05″N 77°03′50″W
– Geographic Information: 38.801499°N 77.063835°W
– Notable Landmark: U.S. Patent Office
– Associated Agency: United States Postal Service
– Seal: U.S. Patent
– Purpose:
– National Patent Bureau
– Focus: Patents and Trademarks
– Regulatory Body: US Patent and Trademark Office
– Intellectual Property Protection
– Innovation Encouragement
– Services:
– Patent Examination
– Trademark Registration
– Intellectual Property Enforcement
– Resources for Inventors
– Legal Guidance
– History:
– Established in the U.S.
– Longevity: Decades of Operation
– Evolution: Adaptation to Technological Changes
– Influence on Innovation
– Legal Precedents Set
– Impact:
– Economic Influence
– Technological Advancements
– Global Recognition
– Intellectual Property Standards
– Business Development
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the national patent office and trademark registration authority for the United States. The USPTO's headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia, after a 2005 move from the Crystal City area of neighboring Arlington, Virginia.
 Seal of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office | |
 The James Madison building on the campus of the United States Patent and Trademark Office headquarters in Alexandria. This is the largest building on the campus. | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 4, 1836 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Headquarters | Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. 38°48′05″N 77°03′50″W / 38.801499°N 77.063835°W |
| Employees | 13,103 (as of September 30, 2022) |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | United States Department of Commerce |
| Website | www |
The USPTO is "unique among federal agencies because it operates solely on fees collected by its users, and not on taxpayer dollars". Its "operating structure is like a business in that it receives requests for services—applications for patents and trademark registrations—and charges fees projected to cover the cost of performing the services [it] provide[s]".
The Office is headed by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, currently held by Kathi Vidal as of April 19, 2022. Andrei Iancu was the former director of the USPTO until he left office on January 20, 2021.
The USPTO cooperates with the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) as one of the Trilateral Patent Offices. The USPTO is also a Receiving Office, an International Searching Authority and an International Preliminary Examination Authority for international patent applications filed in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty.