AIPLA Comments on United States Patent and Trademark Office Draft Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022

As we emphasized in our comments submitted during the preparation of the 2014-2018 USPTO Strategic  Plan, AIPLA  believes  the  most  important  factor  for  the success  of  the  USPTO  in furthering the patent system is full funding of the USPTO.

Any sequester or diversion of the fees  paid  by  its users (many  of  whom  are represented  by  AIPLA  members),  significantly impairs the USPTO’s efforts in  fulfilling its mission  and  implementing  the  Strategic Plan.

Additionally, the balance between fee levels and USPTO performance should be made clear to the users and the public, including facilitating a better understanding of how the level of USPTO service is dependent on the amount of expenditure fees available.