USPTO

As Commissioner for Trademarks, David Gooder has been an exemplary leader, enhancing the U.S. trademark system's global reputation for excellence. As he concludes his five-year term, we celebrate his accomplishments and extend our gratitude to him for his dedicated service to America's brand owners.

Our patent examining corps is filled with some of the brightest minds in science, and this National Science Day, we’re saying “thank you” for their service to American innovation. Our team comes from a wide variety of STEM fields — everything from electric engineering and machine learning to bioinformatics and chemistry. Whether considering the patentability of plants, medical devices, household appliances, vehicles, and more, our workforce is driving the U.S. economy by supporting the intellectual property system. #NationalScienceDay #TeamUSPTO  

It’s National Strawberry Day! And we’re proud to highlight innovators who support the country’s strawberry industry through patents for new species, as well as inventions that help farmers pick, hull, pack and transport the fruits from fields to market. The plant patent category was created in 1930 to protect asexual or self-propagating plants. We found more than 56,000 patents referencing “strawberry” in our patent gazettes. Among the oldest patents, there are crates and fruit baskets from the mid-1850s, including Nicholas Hallock’s fruit box with holes for ventilation to preserve the fruit longer than previous baskets that had interlacing strands so tight air was suppressed and fruit could spoil sooner. In recent patents, inventors from berry company Driscoll’s Inc. patented in 2023 a strawberry plant named “DrisStrawOneHundred,’ selected for its whitish color and flavor. California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington are the primary growers of strawberries in the U.S. Fresh strawberry production has increased to keep up with growing consumer demand, according to our friends at the USDA.

If you’re USPTO-registered patent attorney or agent, it helps to think like a USPTO patent examiner. Join us next week to learn how examiners make decisions. Our four-day course – Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure – kicks off March 4 and is open to international agent-attorneys. You’ll learn: • The role of an examiner and steps they take when reading an application for the first time • How they plan and conduct searches emphasizing relevant legal statutes • How they apply relevant statutes to map prior art • How they write office actions 🗓️ March 4 to March 7 🕛 12 p.m. 💻 Register: https://bit.ly/4hHeVLf

In 2018, The Walt Disney Company patented the design for Captain America's iconic shield. The shield's recognizable circular design — with its bold red, white, and blue colors and central star — is a symbol closely tied to the Marvel Entertainment brand, making it eligible for a trademark, too! The company has multiple trademarks associated with the shield, covering comic book stories and artwork, toys and action figures, clothing, jewelry, furniture, and more. Often seen as a symbol of strength, Cap's shield is also an example of the power of patent and trademark protections. Together, they form an unbeatable defense to safeguard your heroic ideas.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Harry F. Manbeck, Jr., a prominent U.S. patent attorney who served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce of the United States and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks from 1990 to 1992. During his career at the USPTO, Mr. Manbeck demonstrated unwavering commitment to innovation and intellectual property rights. As Commissioner, he spearheaded reform of the USPTO's duty of disclosure rules, and he represented the U.S. in international patent law harmonization negotiations in Europe and with other countries. He also had the distinguished honor of granting the 5 millionth patent. His extensive experience in the private sector provided invaluable insights that he brought to his leadership at the USPTO. His legacy continues to inspire those committed to the advancement and protection of intellectual property.

Welcome Secretary Lutnick! We look forward to your leadership and vision at the U.S. Department of Commerce. View his swearing-in ceremony here: https://lnkd.in/e6TX8ApM

David Gooder, Commissioner for Trademarks, will conclude his five-year term with the USPTO on February 28, 2025. Dan Vavonese, Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations, will serve as Acting Commissioner for Trademarks until a permanent replacement is selected. Vavonese brings over 29 years of experience in trademark operations and championed numerous initiatives to streamline and improve efficiency in examination. Some of the notable accomplishments under Commissioner Gooder’s leadership include retiring the 40-year-old trademarks IT system, reducing first action pendency which had surged over the COVID-19 pandemic, and expanding the USPTO’s anti-fraud activities. We thank him for his dedicated service to the trademark community and America's brand owners. Read more: https://bit.ly/4ibuLgZ

If you don’t record your trademark registration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the ability to seize counterfeit items that can damage your company’s reputation become cumbersome.     Counterfeit products most often come from China, Hong Kong, and India. Vigilant field operations officers from the CBP inspect packages at ports of entry and may contact trademark owners to confirm proper use on goods.  They have authority to seize and dispose of goods that violate federal trademark registration.     Last year, CBP officers seized 32.2 million goods totaling about $5.4 billion – if they had been authentic. Counterfeit goods threaten our innovation ecosystem by diverting money from legitimate businesses and hardworking Americans.     So, how do you record your trademark registration with CBP to protect your brand?     1. Register your trademark with the USPTO 2. Apply for CBP’s Intellectual Property Rights Recordation system. You’ll need to upload a copy of your trademark registration certificate and an image of your trademark being used in commerce. You’ll also need to pay a filing fee.     Check out our free resources to help you record your trademark registration with CBP: https://bit.ly/40VVt5G

It’s National Trading Card Day, and in addition to your sports and game trading cards, we suggest checking out our inventor trading cards! 🎴 Launched in 2012 at the USA Science and Engineering Festival, our cards feature caricatures of historic and modern inventors and are designed to spotlight patent holders throughout American history and inspire future generations. From Marian Croak to Forrest Bird, our 30+ cards recognize Americans who have made advances in genetics, agriculture, communication, transportation, computer science, chemistry, and many more fields. 🤩 See the featured inventors, learn about their innovations, and be inspired: https://bit.ly/3i4pbTM #NationalTradingCardDay