Patent Offices & Laws

U.S. Patent Office (USPTO)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. In doing this, the USPTO fulfills the mandate of Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, of the Constitution that the legislative branch "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." The USPTO registers trademarks based on the commerce clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The USPTO is at the cutting edge of the nation's technological progress and achievement.

Please visit the U.S. Patent office website for more information regarding US Patent laws and updates.

You can also read more about the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) comment to Law Amendment on their website: AIPLA Comments to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Motion to Amend Practice and Procedures in Trial Proceedings under the America Invents Act before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

The European Union Patent (EU Patent)

In 1973, the European Patent Office (EPO) was set up from 16 states of the European Patent Convention. The EPO examines European patent applications from around the world to obtain protection for inventions in up to 45 countries through a centralized and uniform procedure that requires just one application. The EPO has now grown to 39 member states, including all 27 EU member states plus countries such as Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye.

Learn more on the European Union Patent (EPO) Office Website.