Labor Relations
Dudas and Budens Testify Before Congress
POPA President Robert Budens and USPTO Director Jon Dudas were among those who testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property. Read President Budens' written testimony and spoken testimony.
GAO Faults Production Quotas for Examiner Attrition
An article in the Washington Post discusses a Government Accountability Office report which blames examiner attrition at the USPTO on the Office's outdated production quotas. According to the report, the high examiner turnover rate is responsible for the Office's ever-increasing application backlog. In response, the USPTO announced that it will "review assumptions the agency uses to establish production goals for patent examiners."
The results of the 2006 Human Capital Survey have been released. See the responses of USPTO employees.
Union Leaders Cite Need for Patent Fixes
An international coalition of patent examiners' unions--including representatives from the U.S., Europe, Canada, Germany, and Austria--signed and delivered a joint letter to their respective government agency leaders urging serious measures to maintain meaningful protection of intellectual property. The letter warned that pressures on examiners have threatened the patent examination system and outlined measures to stem a decline in patent quality.
POPA Hosts Union Leaders from EPO and Canada
POPA recently hosted union leaders from the European Patent Office and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Representatives discussed similarities and differences among their patent practices and exchanged ideas for solving problems common to all.
Senate Report Admonishes USPTO Management
A Senate Appropriations Committee Report proposes $1.771 billion for the USPTO in FY07, down from the President's proposed budget of $1.843 billion. The Report includes harsh language concerning the USPTO's failures in examiner hiring/retention and its need for better management. The Report states,"[T]he Inspector General has received repeated complaints that PTO has allowed or encouraged unfair personnel practices. The IG has identified these problems as one of the top 10 management challenges of the Department of Commerce. Even with increased funding, the problems at PTO are getting worse, evidence that what is needed is better management."