Transparency via patenting is the most effective mechanism possible for innovation
Kathi Vidal (2023). Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The USPTO Is Stepping up to Drive Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Speed and Scale. J. Pat. & Trademark Off. Soc'y, 103, 243. (Nexis Database) (ermo/sms, Acc:7-5-2024) [MSDI-JE-wk1]
] The mission of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is to develop and oversee an intellectual property and innovation system that is capable of transforming the U.S. economy, creating new jobs and industries, and improving the lives of all in America. For those of us involved in the innovation enterprise, we know that the granting of robust and reliable intellectual property rights to inventors and entrepreneurs is critical to this mission. Guaranteeing these rights--in exchange for disclosing the details of an invention to the public--has proven to be the most effective mechanism ever created to turn new discoveries into viable and transformative commercial products and services.
Guided by the new USPTO Strategic Plan, 1we are working to accelerate U.S. innovation, especially in critical and emerging technologies, bring more people into the innovation ecosystem, and, importantly, bring that innovation to impact. I will discuss some of the USPTO's unique efforts to expand participation in the innovation enterprise, but first will share some of what we are doing to shore up the U.S. IP ecosystem.