USPTO Leadership Presents Graves with Copy of Ancestor’s Patent On July 1, 2021, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves visited the Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, VA. During his visit, he toured the National Inventors Hall of Fame museum, experienced a “day in the life” of a patent examiner and a trademark examining attorney, and...

Blog post by Drew Hirshfeld, performing the functions and duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) From the personal computer to satellite technology, the last few decades of technological innovation have dramatically changed the way we live our lives. Those changes would not have been possible without the...

The Department of Commerce is proud to join the Nation in recognizing the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, also known as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Observed annually in May, AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the remarkable role of the AANHPI community in our Nation’s history. It also is a time to...

This year as we celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we must first recognize the rise of hate crimes on the AANHPI community faced this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commerce Department continues to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to end this violence and root out systemic barriers to economic justice, health...

Guest blog post by Hannah Wang, Primary Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) As a primary patent examiner at the Commerce Department's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), I handle patent applications in the area of computer networking. In addition, I have the privilege of currently serving as president of the Asian Pacific American Network (APANET), one of the...

Ever wanted to take a virtual tour of the ocean, learn about the role of a hurricane hunter, be a part of a superhero “Measurement League," or collect cards on famous inventors? Are you looking to educate your students about the importance of being counted in the Decennial Census? In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we celebrate the impact teachers have on our kids including all the teachers...

The Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) hosted the final installment of the 2021 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) today and heard from a diverse panel of successful women innovators who shared their stories of entrepreneurship and the challenges they faced along the way. WES, an annual event launched in 2011, has proven to be one of the USPTO’s most popular...

Guest blog post by Valencia Martin-Wallace , Deputy Commissioner for Patents, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) As the Deputy Commissioner for Patents at the Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), I am responsible for leading the organization’s international patent cooperation programs and initiatives. I also have oversight of the technology centers...

Most Americans have likely heard of Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, or Alexander Graham Bell. But what about Harriet Strong, Frances Arnold, and Juliette Gordon Low? These and so many more women inventors and scientists have made lasting contributions to our nation’s history. They have inspired future generations of innovators to change the world with their ideas. In honor of Women’s History Month...

The following is a cross-post from the Commerce Department's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) The Commerce Department's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will host the annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) on March 3, 2021. Acting Deputy Commerce Secretary Wynn Coggins will talk about her journey and the Department’s work to empower more women inventors. In addition, this...