The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), is seeking public comments on how the agency can foster pathways for innovation to reach the marketplace, unlocking the potential of intellectual property (IP) for the public good.
The agency is specifically looking to strengthen the IP system with particular attention to green, critical, and emerging technologies. The call for comments is relevant to innovators, patent holders, patent applicants, patent licensees, academic personnel (faculty, researchers, administrators), entrepreneurs, consumers of patented products, public interest groups, and other parties interested in and engaged in innovation, research, development, licensing, or commercialization of technology.
Innovation through Commercialization
As noted in a recent Federal Register notice, bringing innovation to the marketplace through commercialization serves the greater good by creating jobs, improving economic prosperity, and solving world problems. To that end, IP rights play a key role in our economy: “Without IP commercialization, we might not have internet search algorithms, the artificial lung, or life-saving COVID–19 therapies,” the notice asserts. “By continuing to build a strong IP system that encourages the transfer of technological advances to the marketplace, we can foster the emerging technologies of the future, such as those that will mitigate the effects of climate change or prepare us for future global health challenges.”
Among its requests, the USPTO seeks information on:
Access the March 15 Federal Register notice for more information about the request for comments. Send responses by the May 14 deadline.
