USPTO

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks. It was established on July 4, 1836, with roots in the Patent Office created under the Patent Act of 1790. Its headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia, and the agency operates four regional offices in Detroit, Denver, San Jose (Silicon Valley) and Dallas. The USPTO employs more than 14,000 people, including nearly 9,000 patent examiners. The agency is funded entirely by fees collected from its users and does not rely on taxpayer dollars. It is led by a Director who also serves as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property.