Organizational offices

The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity provides leadership, direction, and guidance in carrying out its equal opportunity and civil rights responsibilities.

Assists the Director of the USPTO in advising the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, and federal agencies on domestic and international IP issues.

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAO) is responsible for the overall administrative activities and functions of the USPTO. The OCAO consists of the Office of Administrative Services, the Office of Human Resources, and Telework Coordination.

The Office of the Chief Communications Officer manages the USPTO's public affairs function and coordinates a wide variety of internal and external communications.

The Office of the Chief Financial Office (OCFO) advises the Under Secretary and Director on planning, budgetary, financial, and procurement matters. The OCFO also oversees implementation of and compliance with all federal laws and regulations pertaining to financial management, including the preparation of the USPTOs audited financial statements, financial management systems, and the planning and reporting of performance measures.

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on the application and transformation of information technology (IT).

Patents examines applications and grants patents on inventions when applicant is entitled; it publishes and disseminates patent information, records assignments of patents, maintains search files of U.S. and foreign patents.

The Office of Trademarks is responsible for trademark examination policy, trademark operations, and trademark administration.

The USPTO Office of the General Counsel (OGC) plays a vital role in the USPTO’s mission to issue patents and trademarks. It does so by providing timely and innovative legal advice.

The Office of the Under Secretary (OUS) advises the president, the Secretary of Commerce, and the administration on intellectual property matters. The OUS ensures the agency achieves strategic and management goals.

PTAB includes statutory members and Administrative Patent Judges. It is charged with rendering decisions on appeals from adverse examiner decisions, post-issuance challenges to patents, and interferences.

The Public Advisory Committees review the policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the patent and trademark operations, respectively, and advise the USPTO director on these matters.

TTAB hears and decides adversary proceedings involving oppositions, petitions, and proceedings involving applications for trademark registrations. The Board also decides appeals taken from the examining attorneys' refusals.

The Office of Public Engagement (OPE) is responsible for advancing the USPTO's mission to increase participation in the innovation ecosystem and educate people of the purpose and value of intellectual property.