Bill proposes exempting USPTO from budget sequestration

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Bill proposes exempting USPTO from budget sequestration

A bill has been introduced to the US Congress proposing to exempt the USPTO from funding cuts as a result of budget sequestration

The Patents And Trademarks Encourage New Technology (PATENT) Jobs Act , introduced by Representatives Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren and Anna Eshoo, would exempt the Office from budget cuts from 2014 to 2021.

A press release from Honda claims that if legislation is not passed, the USPTO will not be able to open five new patent offices around the country, including one in Silicon Valley. Honda said that an exception should be made for the USPTO because, unlike other government agencies, it is funded entirely by fees paid to the Office.

Honda also expressed concern about the Office’s backlog of 640,000 applicants, which the planned new locations are designed to ease.

In May, AIPLA president Jeff Lewis wrote to the Office of Management and Budget protesting against sequestration being applied to the USPTO. Lewis, writing on behalf of AIPLA’s 15,000 members, said recent progress in reducing the backlog is likely to be undermined by sequestration.

In a statement today, AIPLA executive director Q Todd Dickinson welcomed the proposed legislation.

“We believe that Rep. Honda's bill recognizes the unique fee-funded status of the USPTO and provides the best chance of ensuring the necessary funding for effective implementation of the AIA," said Dickinson.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Kelly Thompson, chair of South African firm Adams & Adams, discusses self-belief, self-doubt, and the importance of saying yes
The renowned food brands were represented by a host of lawyers, including members of the firms’ IP teams
Partners at Bird & Bird and Taylor Wessing discuss how Saudi Arabia offers unique opportunities for firms dealing in IP and tech
Attorneys explain why there are early signs that the US Supreme Court could rule in favour of ISP Cox in a copyright dispute
A swathe of UPC-related hires suggests firms are taking the forum seriously, as questions over the transitional stage begin
A win for Nintendo in China and King & Spalding hiring a prominent patent litigator were also among the top talking points
Rebecca Newman at Addleshaw Goddard, who live-reported on the seminal dispute, unpicks the trials and tribulations of the case and considers its impact
Attorneys predict how Lululemon’s trade dress and design patent suit against Costco could play out
Lawyers at Linklaters analyse some of the key UPC trends so far, and look ahead to life beyond the transition period
David Rodrigues, who previously worked at an IP boutique, said he may become more involved in transactional work at his new firm
Gift this article