The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a federal agency that is responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks in the United States. The USPTO is part of the Department of Commerce and is responsible for examining and issuing patents for new and useful inventions, as well as registering trademarks that are used to identify the source of goods or services.
The USPTO provides a number of services to inventors and businesses, including:
Patent examination: The USPTO examines patent applications to determine whether they meet the requirements for a patent. This includes evaluating the novelty, non-obviousness, and usefulness of the invention.
Trademark registration: The USPTO registers trademarks that are used to identify the source of goods or services. This includes evaluating the trademark to ensure that it is eligible for registration and does not conflict with any existing trademarks.
Patent and trademark search: The USPTO provides online databases of issued patents and registered trademarks that can be searched by the public. These databases can be useful for inventors and businesses looking for information about existing patents and trademarks.
Intellectual property education and outreach: The USPTO provides educational resources and outreach programs to help inventors and businesses understand the patent and trademark process and protect their intellectual property rights.
The USPTO is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, and has satellite offices in Denver, Colorado, and San Jose, California. It is responsible for issuing millions of patents and registering thousands of trademarks each year.
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