Silicon Valley, which generates roughly 10 percent of the nation’s patents, celebrated the opening of its own U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Business leaders and public officials met Thursday for a ribbon cutting, speeches and tours of the facility, located in a 35,000-square-foot wing of San Jose’s City Hall.
Today we opened #SiliconValley @uspto making DTSJ the center of technology and host innovators across the valley. pic.twitter.com/TEm95ZCWc1
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) October 15, 2015
“Today’s formal opening is a huge step forward for innovators throughout the region,” USPTO Director Michelle Lee, a Silicon Valley native, announced. “This office will be a one-stop shop of resources for those who need it at every step of the business lifecycle.”
Lee: New #USPTOSV office is ‘Embassy of Innovation,’ to #SiliconValley & West Coast. Remarks:http://t.co/CVDuGSgtqA pic.twitter.com/WyFKRxwXGO
— USPTO (@uspto) October 15, 2015
The San Jose office—eight years and $5 million in the works—is one of only three satellite patent sites in the whole country, aside from the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and the first in the agency’s 225-year history.
@SVLeadershipGrp CEO @CarlGuardino pops the cork in celebration of @uspto west coast office in San Jose City Hall! pic.twitter.com/8I2LJN8tnd
— Ash Kalra (@Ash_Kalra) October 15, 2015
“It’s a historic day for Silicon Valley,” 18th District Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) said during her speech. “I can’t help but think that the original innovators and inventors, our founding fathers, would shout out in unison and say, ‘Bravo.’”
Director Lee, a #SiliconValley native, cuts the ribbon on new #USPTOSV West Coast regional office in #SanJose, CA. pic.twitter.com/dvpidu8iKo — USPTO (@uspto) October 15, 2015
Rep. Anna Eshoo, whose 19th District encompasses Silicon Valley, said this new office will drive innovation and economic success. It will employ 120 employees, including 80 patent examiners to process the 1,000-plus patents produced by the region each month and 20 patent judges.
Exciting day at #USPTOSV opening today! Local businesses from startups to global tech leaders alike will benefit. pic.twitter.com/ydOgK9paB5
— Rep. Zoe Lofgren (@RepZoeLofgren) October 15, 2015
The new regional office, Eshoo said, will help the USPTO reduce its backlog of 500,000 patent applications.
Last time I saw Zoe Lofgren was at a “town hall” meeting in Almaden Valley where she was reassuring the restless natives that, yes, she and her staff would sign up for Obamacare.
Last I heard, Congressional staff were either still exempted from Obamacare or were given some big, wet sloppy smooch along with some government cash stuffed into their undergarments because Obamacare was far worse than CongressCare.
Poor Sam. All the talk of innovation and he still has not figured out a way to provide police protection for San Jose residents.
I hope the office dedicates a window to imbecilic policy ideas, otherwise creative patent seekers will find themselves stuck in long lines crowded with Liccardo staffers, council drones, and socialists from the county seeking patents on innovative ways to retain San Jose’s claim as the Skidmark of Silicon Valley.
“Creative patent seekers” will have to follow the defined process for obtaining a patent, design registration, trademark because none of the USPTO’s Regional Office exist to accept filing paperwork. The Regional Offices exist to provide information through walk-in services, searching capabilities, and the ability for applicants to meet virtually with patent personnel in Alexandria, among other services.
> The Regional Offices exist to provide information through walk-in services, searching capabilities, and the ability for applicants to meet virtually with patent personnel in Alexandria, among other services.
This all sounds like stuff that can be done in the privacy of your parents basement with a $49 Android tablet. If your parents don’t have an internet connection, sit on a park bench outside of a Starbucks.
Not a mention of the fact that the Taj Gonzal was pimped to the voters as a building that would consolidate all city offices at one location and eliminate the need for rental office space for city offices. The city still leases many thousands of square feet of office space, but gives city hall space to the USPTO and even provided money for the tenant’s improvements.
“It’s a historic day for Silicon Valley,” 18th District Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) said during her speech.” Then, “Rep. Anna Eshoo, whose 19th District encompasses Silicon Valley, said this new office will drive innovation and economic success.” Maybe someone can devise and patent a proofreading app to help out SJI.
The opening of the USPTO in the Wing is a very welcomed event. The USPTO opening signals the much awaited gentrification of City Hall.
David S. Wall
☺