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![handle is hein.intprop/corep0183 and id is 1 raw text is: [Reprinted from the Annual Report of the Secretary of Commerce, 1934]
PATENT OFFICE
VOLUME OF BUSINESS
A grand total of 79,690 applications was filed, compared with
79,822 the preceding year, a difference of only 132 cases. The main-
tenance of the volume of new business at substantially the same level
as that of the preceding year is not without its encouraging aspects,
considering the steady and severe decline recorded in the preceding
several years, commencing with the period of depression.
The total of new patent applications filed with fees was 56,095, a
decrease of 3,313 from the fiscal year 1933, when 59,408 applications
were received. The slight recession in patent applications was more
than counterbalanced by the filing of 16,317 trade-mark applications,
which is an increase of 3,616 over the total of the preceding year.
The increased activity in the Trade Mark Division was undoubtedly
due to the repeal of the eighteenth amendment, as the applications
included an abnormally large proportion of trade marks relating to
beer, whisky, gin, wines, and other alcoholic beverages.
CONDITION OF WORK
The work in all clerical divisions is current. The Design Division
is only 1 month behind. Of the 65 examining divisions there are
-now only 2 over 4 months behind in the work as compared with 25
divisions in that condition a year ago; 17 additional divisions have
moved from the 4-month to the 3-month period, and 23 more divi-
sions are now within the 4-month period.
During the year the number of patent applications awaiting action
was reduced from 49,050 to 39,226, a decrease of over 20 percent.
Encouraging though this may sound, a decrease in the number of
applications awaiting action does not represent progress unless it be
accompanied by an increase in the number of cases which have been
finally disposed of and cleared from the active records. Obviously
the mere transfer of a case from the awaiting action status to the
awaiting amendment status does not necessarily indicate in itself
an advancement in the prosecution or an improvement in the condi-
tion of the work in the office. More satisfaction is derived from the
fact that, as revealed by a complete inventory of cases in the Patent
Office, the number of cases finally disposed of greatly exceeded the
number received. During the first 6 months of 1934, 31,745 applica-
tions were received, and within the same period 10,501 applications
were abandoned and 26,260 were passed to issue. Thus, 5,016 more
,cases were finally disposed of than were received by the Office during
that period. According to the inventory of June 30, 1934, there were
112,576 applications awaiting amendment by the applicant or action
103902-35 159
Reproduction by Permission of Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Buffalo, NY](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.intprop/corep0183&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)