GAO issues report on Patent Office

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) recently issued its 2005 report to Congress on the USPTO.  The report focuses the PTO’s progress with in its “Strategic Plan” framework.  The report’s bottom line is that the PTO has made great strides in enhancing technical capabilities of its examination corps.  However, the Office is finding it difficult to attract and retain qualified examiners.  Among problems cited by the report is a lack of a “collaborative culture” and an employee reward system that is based on outdated information.

Read the Report.