You probably already saw retired Chief Judge Michel’s editorial in yesterday’s New York Times (and mentioned on the Patently-O blog today). If not, here is the link: [LINK].
The goal of the $1 B infusion into the Patent Office is to reduce the backlog of patent applications over the next few years. If you haven’t sent the article to your clients, congressional representatives, or editor at your local business journal, you might want to do so. After all, all politics is local. Here are links for helping you contact your local congressperson, if you are interested in doing so: [HOUSE] [SENATE].
While it is easy to see where the PTO could spend the money and increase staffing, increasing the ranks of registered patent attorneys to respond to the increase in applications being processed could be a different matter. I suspect associate salaries could be in store for a roller coaster ride if such funding is secured.