The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has achieved and exceeded many of its goals for the financial year, it has been announced.
Following a strong 12 months, the agency now has its lowest patent backlog number in five years, with 669,625 applications yet to be examined.
The USPTO trademarks organization also met or exceeded all FY2011 goals for quality, dependency and e-government.
Trademarks met all of its goals for timely reviewing and completing examination on applications, for correct decision making by examiners, and for electronic filing and processing of applications.
“I am pleased with the progress we have made in reducing the agency’s enormous backlog of unexamined applications and in shortening wait times,” said David Kappos, under-secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO.
“We have really begun to make headway, and this is an important step forward in reinventing the patent system so that it can meet the needs of innovators in a timely manner, helping bring innovations to the marketplace faster and creating jobs for the American people.”
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, trademarks are the most common form of IP globally, ahead of patents and copyright.