Like many government agencies, the USPTO uses many acronyms to describe various offices, divisions, and publications. The acronyms listed on this slide are those commonly used in our program office. They are: United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program (PTRCP): The program office that administers the network of PTRCs in United States. Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) Patent and Trademark Depository Library Association (PTDLA): An association consisting of librarians and library staff from the PTRCs. Public Web based examiner search tool (PubWEST): A specialized database available only at the PTRCs. It is similar to the tools patent examiners use while examining an application. It has stronger search capabilities than the USPTO website and special capabilities. Electronic Filing System (EFS): Used to file applications electronically through the USPTO website.
Disseminating information about patent and trademarks is where the PTRCP fits into the overall structure and business of the USPTO.
PTRCs are authorized under the US Code. It is a formal relationship between the USPTO and the designated library. The $50.00 annual statutory fee is sent to the designated representative and this person is responsible for ensuring it reaches the proper person in administration/finance.
1990 – Trademarks were officially added to the title of the USPTO
Both accounts are for the library’s private access directly to our program office. These email addresses are not to be distributed to your patrons or the general public.
This number is for the library’s private access directly to our program office. This telephone number should not to be distributed to your patrons or the general public.
This number can be given to your patrons or the general public as a contact for the USPTO.
These numbers can be given to the general public.
Spend a year at USPTO working with our staff. Salary and housing are reimbursed.
Each PTRC is individual in their set-up. The location of the PTRC materials can logically kept in a variety of departments with in the library. These are a few examples of services points that offer PTRC services.
New product in development – shared space for PTRCs