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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi everyone!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the topic of \u201care there sufficient chairs in the building\u201d for telework employees to sit, if the USPTO were required to eliminate its remote work policy . . . in several different public presentations within the last six months, USPTO
staff have mentioned that they have recently given up a bunch of its leased office space, given that these areas were currently unoccupied. (And, given requirements to reduce the budget, it made sense not to continue to pay to keep these empty office buildings
heated, etc.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I recall that this referred to at least one of the buildings near the USPTO\u2019s main headquarters in Alexandria \u2013 but perhaps that specific building had been dedicated to patent staff, and may not have impacted trademark operations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below for reference are some places where this issue is discussed \u2013 but I\u2019m positive these references are incomplete:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b>USPTO\u2019s Annual Report for 2024</b> (issued around November 8, 2024)\u2013 see the discussion starting at page 101 on \u201cNote 11. Leases\u201d -
<a href="https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USPTOFY24AFR.pdf">https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USPTOFY24AFR.pdf</a> (prior annual reports can be found through this page:
<a href="https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/uspto-annual-reports">
https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/uspto-annual-reports</a>)<o:p></o:p></li><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="circle">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">Page 47 of the PDF has a section called, \u201cReduction of office space\u201d \u2013 and refers to the reduction of the USPTO\u2019s \u201cAlexandria headquarters footprint by 841,284 square feet, or 34%,
during August 2024, yielding a cost savings of more than $38.1 million in real estate expenditures annually. Combined with additional operational cost avoidance, the agency expects to save $205 million over the next five-year campus real estate lease term.\u201d<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><b>USPTO\u2019s Telework Annual Report</b> \u2013 (most recent report is for FY2023) -
<a href="https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/office-chief-administrative-officer/telework-program-office">
https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/office-chief-administrative-officer/telework-program-office</a><o:p></o:p></li><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="circle">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">Page 6 of the 2023 Annual Report says that there\u2019s a \u201c$68.5 million real estate cost avoidance due to remote teleworkers.\u201d<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">The 2023 report notes that the USPTO \u201cwill conduct telework recertification for all employees\u201d in 2024. (Page 23 of the 2023 slide deck). Does anyone know if that happened and what
the outcome was? (There\u2019s no 2024 Annual Report.)<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Just for comparison (although it\u2019s not expressly applicable to the USPTO) -
<b>GAO\u2019s Performance and Accountability Report for FY2024</b> - <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-900570">
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-900570</a><o:p></o:p></li><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="circle">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">Page 85 of the report (at p. 101 of the PDF), references \u201cInitiated field office space-optimization planning efforts to continue reducing our physical footprint\u201d<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1">Page 119 (page 135 of the PDF) discusses how the GAO is managing its physical space \u2013 and how it\u2019s evaluating it\u2019s \u201clong-term needs for office space.\u201d<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone have any additional information about this issue?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy reading,<br>
Chris<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#875A2D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Christina D. Frangiosa, Esq. |
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Don Stout via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 21, 2025 7:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Carl Oppedahl <carl@oppedahl.com>; For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Don Stout <dstout@patlawyers.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] keeping things politics-free? (was abandoning remote work? Note Federal telework Act)<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Thank you Carl.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I understand some discussion concerning the USPTO remote work policies, though I don\u2019t think the USPTO was at all the target of the EO. But when the discussion veered into
birthright citizenship \u2013 well that\u2019s an entirely separate issue </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😊</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Don Stout<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Stout, Uxa & Buyan, LLP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Laguna Hills, CA 92653<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">949-450-1750<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Email:
<a href="mailto:dstout@patlawyers.com">dstout@patlawyers.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Carl Oppedahl <<a href="mailto:carl@oppedahl.com">carl@oppedahl.com</a>>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 21, 2025 4:32 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> keeping things politics-free? (was abandoning remote work? Note Federal telework Act)<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p>Thank you Don for posting. As the sponsor of this and a dozen other intellectual property practitioner listservs, I will share my own feeling about this particular topic. You are quite right that the collegiality of this listserv is precious and important.
Balanced against this is the reality that all of our livelihoods are tied closely to things that happen at the USPTO. I will invite listserv members to continue to discuss this particular topic, while doing the best we can to minimize as best one can the
risk of political polarization in any part of the discussion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Yes it is a simple fact that if the USPTO management were to try to bring an end to work-from-home, it would simply fail, for many reasons. One very simple factual reason is that there are not enough chairs and benches in the USPTO office buildings to provide
places for the WFH employees to sit if they were all to start reporting to work at the office in person.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>I recognize that there surely are members of this listserv who voted for the newly inaugurated president just as other members of this listserv did not vote for the newly inaugurated president. Hopefully we can find ways to monitor the continued developments
about this particular Executive Order, as it relates to the USPTO, in discussions that can be nearly purely factual, doing our best to try to avoid needlessly getting into the broader political polarization that affects every one of us every day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>I probably did not express these thoughts very well, for which I apologize in advance. But I hope we can avoid polarizing words and tones while discussing developments at the USPTO.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Carl<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On 1/21/2025 2:40 PM, Don Stout via E-trademarks wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What is refreshing about this
<span class="spelle">listserve</span> is the collegiality and advice we share concerning trademark prosecution matters, without getting into the mud of national politics. I ask that we stay in the trademark lane and keep things as politics-free as possible.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Thanks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Don Stout<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Stout, Uxa & Buyan, LLP<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">23172 Plaza Pointe Drive, Suite 110<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Laguna Hills, CA 92653<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">949-450-1750<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">949-450-1764 fax<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Email:
<a href="mailto:dstout@patlawyers.com">dstout@patlawyers.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks
<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com"><e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Laura Geyer via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 21, 2025 1:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice.
<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"><e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Laura Geyer <a href="mailto:lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com"><lgeyer@ndgallilaw.com></a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] PTO abandoning remote work? Note Federal telework Act<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Kevin:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That one, the briefs and amici were already ready to go before the election. I\u2019ve linked the ACLU brief here, and also there are 18 state attys general who brought suit separately,
along with San Francisco and the District of Colombia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Ending birthright citizenship cannot be done by EO. That at least is straightforward. It has to be done by Amendment to the Constitution.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="https://www.aclu.org/cases/new-hampshire-indonesian-community-support-v-donald-j-trump?document=Complaint">https://www.aclu.org/cases/new-hampshire-indonesian-community-support-v-donald-j-trump?document=Complaint</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>Laura Talley Geyer</b> |
<b>Of Counsel</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>ND Galli Law LLC</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">1200 G Street, N.W., Ste 800<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Washington, DC 20005<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Tel: (202) 599-9019 (direct)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/">https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 21, 2025 4:17 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Kevin Grierson <<a href="mailto:kgrierson@cm.law">kgrierson@cm.law</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] PTO abandoning remote work? Note Federal telework Act<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The current administration has issued an executive order that appears to directly contradict the 14<sup>th</sup> amendment\u2019s birthright citizenship clause, so I don\u2019t think the
fact that the PTO\u2019s telework system is enabled by legislation is going to stop them. That said, I would guess that either the union or an individual who was told they couldn\u2019t telework any more would have standing to sue to stop the order, but given the squishiness
of the actual order, I\u2019m not sure it will be actionable until someone is told they can\u2019t work from home any more.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Kevin Grierson\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <a href="mailto:kgrierson@cm.law" target="_blank">kgrierson@cm.law</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.cm.law/cm-law-formerly-culhane-meadows-launches-second-decade-with-fresh-name-and-modern-brand/" target="_blank">Please note: Culhane Meadows is now CM Law</a></span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Catherine Goe via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 21, 2025 3:52 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> for trademark practitioners <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Catherine Goe <<a href="mailto:goecat@gmail.com">goecat@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [E-trademarks] PTO abandoning remote work? Note Federal telework Act<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">There's more than meets the eye here. See the link below for "History, Legislation & Reports" from U.S. Office of Personnel Management re: the Federal telework Act. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Born of the invention of enabling technology. Note long History, rationale and benefits sought, e.g., cost cutting..<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Congressional action required to negate legislation which is the apparent intent of the Executive Order?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">And, assuming there are grounds to challenge the Executive Order, who could/would bring such an action? <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Cat Goe, TM Paralegal<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="https://www.opm.gov/telework/history-legislation-reports/">https://www.opm.gov/telework/history-legislation-reports/</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>
From: <strong><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Dan Feigelson via E-trademarks</span></strong> <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
Date: Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 3:08\u202fPM<br>
Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] PTO abandoning remote work?<br>
To: For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
Cc: Dan Feigelson <<a href="mailto:djf@iliplaw.com">djf@iliplaw.com</a>><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I don't do TM work (not sure how I got on this list), but I can say that from the patent side, they completely screwed up with the offices in Detroit, Denver and San Jose.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">What they SHOULD have done, and SHOULD do, is assign the entirety of each art unit to one of their physical offices, and require employees to physically show up for work. It would
vastly improve examination quality. For example, all of group 1600 (which examines inter alia pharmaceuticals) should be physically in the same office. I don't care if it's Alexandria or one of the other three, but put them all in one physical office. It would
improve training, and it would allow for better retention of institutional memory, which would lead to more uniform and better examination.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">That's not what they did, and I doubt that's what they're going to do. I suspect the bean counters look only at the cost of rent of physical office space, and not at the cost to
the public of poor patent examination (a cost which is difficult to quantify in any event). And as mentioned earlier in this thread, there's the union, which opposes any changes, and people who don't want to move, which is understandable in the short-term,
but not something the PTO should be factoring in. (It's great to be a monopoly and not have to worry about whether or not you're giving the public you serve the best possible service.)
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">No idea if the same can be said for TM examination.
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dan<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 9:25\u202fPM Edward Timberlake via E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Also, for anybody not familiar:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The word "telework" perhaps tends to bring to mind a situation where there's a physical building that can house all of the employees but where (at least some of) the employees may
have the option of working from elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The USPTO has no such building. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">If all of the employees were required physically to come to Alexandria, there'd be nowhere for (most of) them to work. <o:p></o:p></p>
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