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WEEKLY NEWS - JULY 13, 2009

This article is part of MIP Week, a weekly email newsletter written by the editors of Managing IP magazine. Take a one week trial to Managing IP and find many more related articles.

House approves USPTO funding bill

Eileen McDermott, New York

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill that will allow the USPTO director to use funds designated for its trade mark portfolio to address the patent backlog

Late last month, the Senate approved companion legislation. Both S1358 and HR3114 authorise the director of the Office to use funds pursuant to the Trademark Act of 1946 for patent purposes, in order to "avoid employee furloughs and other cutbacks at the PTO", according to an Innovation Alliance release.

Brian Pomper, executive director of the Innovation Alliance, applauded the House's approval and said: "Clearing this backlog and being able to more efficiently process applications at the PTO is vital to the growth of a healthy innovation economy."

The bills must still be sent to a conference committee before being considered and voted into law by President Obama.



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