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B-197643 1 (1980-03-05)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabjrs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES ,3 3 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 B-197643 March 5, 1980 CED 0-141 The Honorable Abraham Ribicoff Chairman, Committee on b&,Cl Governmental Affairs United States Senate Dear--Mr. Chairman: ( Your letter of January \J5, 1980, enclosed a copy of S. 2079J a bill to improve-the administration of the patent and trademark laws by establishing the Patent and Trademark Office as an independent agency, and for other purposes, and requested our views and recommendations on this proposed legislation. The provisions of this bill are directed toward removing j the Patent and Trademark office from the Department of Commerce. Implicit in this proposed action is the assumption that the Patent and Trademark Office would be more effective in performing its functions if it were a separate organiza- tional entity, directly responsible to the President and the Congress. Although the GAO has not examined issues concerning the adminis'ation of the Patent and Trademark Office, we rec- ognize that umerous problems have been identified through Com- merce Department appropriations hearings as well as from other sources. Among these concerns are a need to increase the num- ber of patent examiners; an increase in the time it takes to obtain a patent; and the integrity of the patent once it has been issued. It appears that many of the problems that beset the Patent and Trademark Office are purported to stem from the lack of sufficient fundsK Some attribute this condition to the requirement that the Patent and Trademark Office must communicate its needs indirectly to the Congress and OMBi through the Department of Commerce. This has led to charges that the Commerce Department has not adequately supported the Patent and Trademark Office's needs. On the other hand,,the President recently reported that the Patent and Trademark Office has been directed to undertakra majorK,,fort to upgrade and modernize its processes. It is Wod4=hat commitment to get the job done and appropriate allocation of resources can be accomplished within an organization whether it is an inde- pendent agency or housed within a department.

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