Patent Attorney and Founder
Hey everyone, JD Houvener here, founder and patent attorney at Bold Patents. I’ve been helping inventors for over a decade, securing nearly 500 patents along the way. Today, I’ve got some important news to share, especially for those thinking about starting their patent journey.
If you’re ready to dive in, I’ve got a Bold Inventor Kit waiting for you. It includes my book, Bold Ideas: The Inventor’s Guide to Patents, packed with everything you need to know to get started. Just click the link below to download it and begin your journey today.
Now, let’s talk about a critical issue that could affect the USPTO – the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Recently, a letter was sent to Senate leaders warning about how some of President Trump’s executive orders could hurt the office. I want to break down the key points and focus on the ones that hit the USPTO hardest.
First up: the backlog. As of December 2024, there are over 826,000 patent applications stuck in the queue, waiting to be processed. That’s the highest it’s ever been. This backlog is a real problem because when applications sit idle, inventors can’t get the protection they need. That delays everything—innovation, new products, and new ideas. When inventors face long waits to secure their rights, it can discourage them from filing altogether.
Next, there’s the issue of hiring freezes. The USPTO, unlike other federal agencies, is funded through fees paid by inventors. When those fees go up—like we saw with the recent 40% trademark fee hike—there’s an expectation that the office should be able to hire more staff or improve efficiency. But with a hiring freeze in place, that’s not happening. Fewer examiners mean even more delays, which only adds to the frustration for inventors.
What’s even worse is the potential end of remote work at the USPTO. The office has worked remotely for over 30 years, even before the pandemic. Today, 96% of USPTO employees work from home. They’ve perfected the system, and it works. Now, there’s pressure to bring them back to the office. This could disrupt the whole process. The USPTO is different from other federal agencies because it’s already run efficiently, and forcing people back to the office could make things worse.
Finally, there’s a new issue: the offer of severance packages to federal employees. Essentially, the government is encouraging workers to resign by offering them up to eight months of severance. This could cause a loss of experienced examiners at the USPTO, making the backlog even worse.
So, why does all this matter? The American Intellectual Property Law Association sent a letter to Senate leaders, urging them to give the USPTO special status so it can keep running efficiently. With the rising costs and delays, it’s more important than ever that the office remains able to hire more examiners and maintain its remote work model. If not, we risk stalling progress in areas like AI, medical devices, and healthcare technology.
If you’re in a position to influence policy, I encourage you to reach out to your local politicians and push for change. Let’s make sure we’re supporting the USPTO and helping inventors thrive in 2025.
Thanks for reading, and remember: go big, go bold!