Patent Law

Junket

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

Considering that USPTO management spawns from Congressional aides, payback in the form of a junket to Copenhagen, Denmark should raise eyebrows only for its destination, not its blatant toadying. The Washington Post:

"The purpose of the trip," Jefferson D. Taylor, chief of the USPTO office of congressional relations, says in his invite, sent to aides on the Senate and House Judiciary subcommittees on intellectual property, "is for discussions on issues related to intellectual property rights" and such and to "meet with local patent and trademark office representatives, members of industry" and American businessmen in Denmark, and -- our favorite -- to "visit with students and staff of the Copenhagen Business School, University of Denmark."

Continuing the report:

On the House side, most of the Democratic staff declined to go, but several GOP staffers are said to be packing, and some GOP aides are said to be going from the Senate side. Only two USPTO officials -- Taylor and deputy for patents Margaret A. Focarino-- will accompany the half-dozen or so Hill folks.

Your examination and maintenance fees at work.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on August 06, 2008 (boomark / email).