| Description |
1 online resource (iii, 85 pages) : color illustrations |
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text txt rdacontent |
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computer c rdamedia |
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online resource cr rdacarrier |
| Note |
Title from title screen (viewed on July 21, 2016). |
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"GAO-16-479." |
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"June 2016"--Cover. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Summary |
USPTO examines patent applications to ensure that inventions are, among other requirements, novel and not obvious. USPTO patent examiners accomplish this by comparing applications to zprior arty, existing patents and applications in the United States and abroad, and nonpatent literature, such as scientific articles. Thorough prior art searches help ensure the validity of granted patents. GAO was asked to identify ways to improve patent quality through use of the best available prior art. This report (1) describes the challenges examiners face in identifying relevant prior art, (2) describes how selected foreign patent offices have addressed challenges in identifying relevant prior art, and (3) assesses the extent to which USPTO has taken steps to address challenges in identifying relevant prior art. GAO surveyed a generalizable stratified random sample of USPTO examiners with an 80 percent response rate; interviewed experts active in the field, including patent holders, attorneys, and academics; interviewed officials from USPTO and similarly sized foreign patent offices, and other knowledgeable stakeholders; and reviewed USPTO documents and relevant laws. GAO is making seven recommendations, among them, that USPTO develop a strategy to identify key sources of nonpatent literature, establish goals and indicators for prior art search quality, and collect sufficient information to assess prior art search quality. |
| Note |
Description based on online resource; title from PDF cover page (GAO, viewed July 23, 2016). |
| Subject |
United States. Patent and Trademark Office -- Personnel management -- Evaluation.
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Patents -- United States -- Evaluation.
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Patent practice -- United States -- Evaluation.
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Patents -- Research -- United States.
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| Added Author |
United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary, sponsoring body.
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| Added Title |
Patent Office should strengthen search capabilities and better monitor examiner's work |
| Gpo Item No. |
0546-D (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
GA 1.13:GAO-16-479 |
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