United States Patent and Trademark Office

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides patent and trademark protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions and corporate and product identification.

The mission of the PTO is to promote "industrial and technological progress in the United States and strengthen the national economy by:

• Administering the laws relating to patents and trademarks.
• Advising the Secretary of Commerce, the President of the United States, and the administration on patent, trademark, and copyright protection.
• Advising the Secretary of Commerce, the President of the United States, and the Administration on the trade-related aspects of intellectual property."

Each year, the PTO issues thousands of patents to companies and individuals all around the world.

The PTO is based in the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia.

External link

• United States Patent and Trademark Office website