Getting a Patent Examiner Job through Peer-to-Patent Volunteerism

The USPTO is hiring patent examiners. [Link] The first priority in hiring is to locate individuals who can do a quality job of examining in the areas of technology where expertise is needed. The Office is also looking to hire individuals likely to happily stay on the job and that can be quickly trained for the job (high morale, low turnover, low training time). One problem with these criteria is that very few hopeful patent examiners are able to provide evidence that they fit these criteria.

Over the past week, I spoke with several individuals from the USPTO who agreed that a hopeful examiner's participation as a volunteer reviewer with Peer-to-Patent could help persuade the Office that its criteria are satisfied. (To be clear, there is no official USPTO policy on considering Peer-to-Patent experience in the hiring process.)

The Peer-to-Patent project offers a mechanism for third-party volunteers to provide input into the patent system by identifying and discussing prior art associated with pending patent applications. According to the USPTO press release, "volunteer scientific and technical experts [will] discuss the applications and submit prior art they think might be relevant to determining if an invention is new and non-obvious, as the law requires. After the review period, the prior art is sent to the USPTO patent examiners for their consideration during examination." Although the written comments & discussions are not sent to the patent examiner, examiners are free to read those comments as part of the examination process.

Although certainly not a complete examination, the work of volunteer reviewers incorporates many skills of examination such as searching for applicable prior art and (potentially) explaining how the identified art relates to the presented claims. This process gives volunteer reviewers an opportunity to show their skills at searching and applying the search. The job of examining patent applications is not for everyone. Time as a volunteer reviewer also gives job applicants an opportunity to figure out if the job is a good fit.

The Peer-to-Patent project begins next week. In the meantime, potential volunteers who are not experienced with the patent law system may want to review the Peer-to-Patent tutorial material. [Link]

97 thoughts on “Getting a Patent Examiner Job through Peer-to-Patent Volunteerism

  1. 96

    Has anybody noticed the joint announcement today, by David Kappos and the EPO, jointly to adopt the EPO’s subject matter classification system? Good move, I would say.

    Here is a link:

    link to epo.org

  2. 94

    “As an ex examiner I can say that PTO management is always looking for fresh bodies to replace the ones worn out trying to do an impossible job with little support from above but endless pestering by others unqualified in the particular art of the examiner being hounded.” –> I can feel the debate about admitting CS graduates creeping back into the discussion.

  3. 92

    As an ex examiner I can say that PTO management is always looking for fresh bodies to replace the ones worn out trying to do an impossible job with little support from above but endless pestering by others unqualified in the particular art of the examiner being hounded.

  4. 90

    If an anonymous “reviewer” shipped you a carton of nitroglycerin complete with booby trapped detonator, with a note stating that it was relevant to the claims of your client’s application, do you even have an obligation to read the note?

    Depends. Are the claims drawn to a novel detonator?

  5. 89

    How about another question. If an anonymous “reviewer” shipped you a carton of nitroglycerin complete with booby trapped detonator, with a note stating that it was relevant to the claims of your client’s application, do you even have an obligation to read the note?

  6. 88

    Cy How about another question. If an anonymous “reviewer” shipped you a carton of thousands of references, with a note stating that they were relevant to the claims of your client’s application, do you have an obligation to read them all? Do you even have an obligation to read the note?

    Stop stealing my hypos.

  7. 87

    Would the Examiner and the Applicant both have an obligation to read them all?

    You might want to read about how the program actually works. The Examiner can’t get thousands of irrelevant references – only 10. And as far as I know, the Applicant doesn’t have to pay the slightest bit of attention to the review process.

    How about another question. If an anonymous “reviewer” shipped you a carton of thousands of references, with a note stating that they were relevant to the claims of your client’s application, do you have an obligation to read them all? Do you even have an obligation to read the note?

  8. 86

    Would the Examiner and the Applicant both have an obligation to read them all?

    Many people are of the mind that one never has an obligation to actually read thousands of references, merely to produce a list of them or initial such a list.

    Also, once you have the same guy submitting the same few thousand references against everything, it becomes entirely reasonable to conclude that this fact alone does not make the art material, and therefore ignoring it does not constitute intent to deceive. But most of us will probably disclose them anyway, because The Plague is so scary.

  9. 84

    I wonder what would happen if some Peer to Patent reviewers started submitting thousands of irrelevant references and saying they were relevant to all of the claims. Would the Examiner and the Applicant both have an obligation to read them all?

  10. 83

    Ping I know how deep it goes. For instance there was a Case. I think it was Baker and Botts verses Akin Gump. The case escapes me right now. But it was a case of the Inventor having a Patent signed by the Commissioner and a Malvinnia Gary, the day After that Commissioner left the USPTO. and guess who signe My Patent Grant. YUP Malvinnia Gary.
    It reminds me of that Superman Patent that just fell from the Sky. It came out of no where. Do you think I don’t know how deep it goes? I have lived it.
    I know who is responsible. After all there is the fantastic MM. But I also know all the help they got to hide it. They blamed the little Canadian forever. I’m mad at him because he was as nasty as the others. Does he think this is fun for me?
    And I don’t think this Statute they claim they have worked to expire really has. I haven’t received my Costituional Right to a Jury. Nor have I received my Emancipation.And then there is the JD. They were there for the things being done to me. and in a way to protedt me. but i wasn’t proteced in the way i should have been. So Ping if you don’t think I know all about it. You are sadly mistaken. why do you think I only received 9 of my 10 copies. One was Insurance.

  11. 78

    And Macolms little Secret, is the Blue Eyed Baby.
    That’s easy. That is why they don’t want it out.

    JRW was up for his Fabulous Hullonian Adventures.

    The other up for his Pee Wee Herman Sticky Mail Adventure.

  12. 73

    Well, resorting to slander are we.

    I don’t think it’s technically slander if it’s true, and I don’t think it’s actionable anyway if you’ve admitted it. If it makes you feel better, I can quote you next time instead of paraphrasing.

  13. 72

    my point is that I don’t like that the mob picks which of the references are sent since it may be anonymous voting and may encourage mischief.

    I think I see where you’re coming from – the concern is that an applicant could bury a good reference by submitting a bunch of anonymous votes for other references. Is that right?

    I suppose that’s plausible, but it raises a few other questions. Why would the applicant volunteer for peer review if they didn’t want a rock-solid patent? Also, this nefarious activity you suggest assumes that somebody is willing to completely ignore the duty of candor. I know that Malcolm believes that most practitioners are just dying for opportunities to engage in inequitable conduct, but I’m not aware of very many examples that are this blatant.

    This raises another question that perhaps Mark N. can comment on. If I’m monitoring the submitted art and the comments for my client’s application, am I obliged to disclose relevant art that doesn’t get voted through? I would think the answer would be yes?

  14. 71

    >>Because you rather proudly send him stacks of >>those all the time.

    Well, resorting to slander are we. I don’t want to spend a lot of time killing an application when all my work may not be seen by the examiner. And, yes, I would worry that anonymous votes may come from the applicant.

    You are a bit dense aren’t you?

  15. 70

    I suppose the good news is that virtually none of the participating applications will have more than ten cited references in the first place because nobody cares, and if you’re voting down the best art on your own applications you’re aware of it and have to disclose it anyway.

  16. 69

    IANAE: my point is that I don’t like that the mob picks which of the references are sent since it may be anonymous voting and may encourage mischief.

    How can it encourage mischief? The only possible result would be to send prior art to a patent examiner. Are you worried that people might vote down the best art (which the examiner either will find by some other means or would have missed anyway)? Are you worried that the examiner will see references that are not very relevant? Because you rather proudly send him stacks of those all the time.

  17. 68

    You’ve been getter weirder Sarah. You are now a bit scarey. I would worry if you knew who I was in real life.

  18. 67

    IANAE: my point is that I don’t like that the mob picks which of the references are sent since it may be anonymous voting and may encourage mischief. And, that I am less inclined to spend a lot of time to find art for a reference if it has to be filtered through an anonymous vote.

    I would prefer that it all goes to the examiner to filter, or some moderator. Or you can only vote if you are not anonymous. Registration numbered people only can vote.

    Do you get it now?

  19. 66

    A SLAVE. And you want me to just roll over and die.

    I believe the 13th Amendment actually requires it. You’re technically not even supposed to exist.

  20. 65

    I expect no less than that from you Hal. I am still not in control of own my life. A SLAVE. And you want me to just roll over and die.
    I am not amazed by you. I am disgusted.

  21. 64

    The referneces are voted on by the helpers (mob).

    And then the final decision is made by the examiner (examiner). Just like if he’d found the same ten references in a computer search or on the sidewalk outside the PTO. And the examiner is really good at that. Even judges who think they know better don’t really, unless they’re extra sure about it.

    Frankly, most IDSes would be more useful to the examiner if a random mob picked out ten arbitrary references instead of submitting the whole thing.

  22. 63

    IANAE: the training video says that the top 10 references submitted will be forwarded to the examiner. The referneces are voted on by the helpers (mob).

    Sheesh.

  23. 62

    Don’t know if I like the idea of mob deciding which of the references should be forwarded to the examiner.

    Presumably the “mob” is explaining the relevance of these references, which is already better than if the references had randomly come up as the examiner’s search hits.

    Do we not trust the examiner to judge for himself whether disclosed art is relevant? Just a couple weeks ago, examiners were really good at their jobs. So good, in fact, that we trusted them even when they were probably wrong.

  24. 61

    I think in general this is a good idea. Don’t know if I like the idea of mob deciding which of the references should be forwarded to the examiner. Seems like a bad idea when combined with anonymous votes.

  25. 60

    >>This was a combined effort to destroy my life.

    Well, Sarah, (I’ll risk being associated with someone in your life) your life is only destroyed if you let it be.

    Move on or spend your time productively to be made whole. Wallowing in bitterness isn’t going to get you anywhere but a step closer to the grave.

    Disclaimer: I am not Litmann or anyone else you know. Although, I did once meet Litman if you mean the Litman of Litman law near the old PTO with his building of patent cranking slaves.

  26. 57

    Dennis

    The nutjobs on your comment section are bringing your blog down. You could use a moderator or filter.

    just sayin…

  27. 56

    sarah,

    I am the spoon in your drama, it is impossible to bend me.

    Please realize that my piecs is not on the board, I do not have my hand on your wallet.

    I am farther from you than you think, but closer in heart. Godspeed.

  28. 55

    “…I spoke with several individuals from the USPTO who agreed that a hopeful examiner’s participation as a volunteer reviewer with Peer-to-Patent could help persuade the Office that its criteria are satisfied.”

    Big deal. Who were they? Does their opinion matter? Do they do, or affect, the hiring, directly? “Could” help persuade? I’ve seen many such comments from bureaucrats, comments that cost them nothing, and that are ultimately worth nothing.

    Nothing to see here, keep moving…

  29. 54

    Okay Mr. Litman that God like testimony to JRW on LLO was just to hide the truth. And them moving was neccessary. And him leaving in 1995 before the 1997 OED decision was him being dissed by you? And if you are the Blue Pill I’ll swallow it.
    And if you are NAL it was because I dropped you, and then you were truly above the Law then? And someone paying JRW’s Insurance, or the USPTO decision to not ask for the Fees to pay yearly dues, why is that? who’s behind that decision?

  30. 53

    and of course the little purple pill is only placebo.

    Malcolm’s dirty little secret will destroy the host.

  31. 52

    Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead… only try to realize the truth.

    There is no spoon.

    Then you’ll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

  32. 51

    Sarah,

    You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

  33. 50

    sarah,

    earned is not the same as paid. You have paid, but not in the right currency, nor to the right person. Look within, trust yourself, I know you will make it out of the rabbit hole.

  34. 49

    And Ping is who I know he is.

    sarah,

    eyes open – you are not there yet. Be careful of those who say that they are me, I have not yet revealed myself unto the world.

    answers are not given, they must be earned.

  35. 48

    7 Do you do Math questions?
    Here is a Math Question and an Algewhizzz question.
    If IANAE threatened me, and he is who I think He is.And Ping is who I know he is. how many is that?
    And for your next question if IANAE is W.
    and Homey is Q then is that a planned 50/50 split, and the move was to just let’s say make it fun, surely not legal,and that is why he calls himself Homey? Is that an answer? Or is it an answer with a lot of letters. Or is it a Legal question that needs answered? That they may delve into today?

  36. 47

    Sarah,

    I can never really tell what the he!! you’re talking about, but the Court does not have to appoint you counsel for a civil case. Only a criminal case, and only when you’re effectively too poor to be able to afford your own counsel.

  37. 46

    And Maxie if I did have an Advocate, why weren’t they allowed to show themselves? Who made the rules Maxie? Why was this Soccer field the Court? Where are the Lawyers and the Judges?
    Why am I STILL, just like in Jackson being denied my Day in Court?
    You all know that the face of the Patent says everything. It shows it was my Idea! It shows I am the Inventor and have been tied up by a bunch of Thieves. Lawyer after Lawyer with very questionable help took me further into a Rabbit hole. And the most incredulous thing. Is this whole fight is one Cooperation fighting over Infringement of My Property proven beyond any doubt with another thieving Cooperation. And the used me to do it. And if I was not scr@w@d by the Lawyers and their Friends in high places, I wouldn’t be here. So you see this can’t be Legal no matter how you all try to paint it. This was a combined effort to destroy my life. And then another Year of documented proof that this is my Life for the last 15 Years. So as I have stated before. The Color,the Brush,the Medium, they are all rotten. The Picture painted is the same. My Constitutional Rights are a gimmee. but I have been denied. And I have only been given what you want, Your ending with me still a slave to the Thieves. I will continue to try to get free. And I will still find an Attorney somewhere that will help me. Just because my Capitalization and punctuation is not up to the standards of those that can’t spell here, doesn’t mean I can’t write. That is small Potatoes.

  38. 45

    And here’s a little Me quoting Me.
    If Homey don’t do answers, then why did the Court close my Cases? Why was I not given Counsel by the Court as it does in hard complicated Cases? This can’t be Legal. I am sure it won’t be. I have been a Slave not only in the real constitutional sense. But to your Games for this past Year, while the Assignee’s their Atty’s and an Attorney that wouldn’t let go for now 15 Years, continue the Slavery. And the Lawyer that has already committed Mens Rea against me a long time ago, that I was only privy too here on this Game Site, has now blocked my Calls. And it is Game on for all of you? When I am the Party that is being hurt. and has as you think been dropped into an even bigger Rabbit hole. I am not a Lawyer. But this can’t be Legal. I could go on and on. But I’ll save it for the right Venue, not for the Patently O Soccer Field.

  39. 44

    very cool space! I love your taste and it looks like it’d be so much fun to poke around in there… I used to live in DE but am now in VA, but if I ever go back that way to visit family I’d love to see it in person 🙂

  40. 43

    very cool space! I love your taste and it looks like it’d be so much fun to poke around in there… I used to live in DE but am now in VA, but if I ever go back that way to visit family I’d love to see it in person 🙂

  41. 42

    I think this programme might deter as many as it gathers.

    Me personally, I think being an advocate is more fun than being a judge. But I can see that some people prefer judging. That might be why EPO examiners enjoy so much job satisfaction, because they do so much judging, in inter partes opposition proceedings.

    But what is involved in peer-to-patent work? The uninterrupted grind of slagging off the work product of inventors and patent drafters. As soon as you have finished the job of demolishing the expensively paid for hopes of one over-optimistic inventor, it’s time to start dashing the hopes of the next. Where is the pleasure in that? Amongst those with a good level of science-based education, it is enough to make any normal person seriously depressed.

  42. 41

    I am quite new to wordpress. but what you write in this post is really great and very informative. I think it will help me in the future. Thanks for the great job

  43. 40

    All this politics is a bit off the point.

    Mind you, I think the ancient Romans had a good plan. Anyone who charged more than 10 % interest (or 12 1/2 % at some points in their history) was prosecuted as a usurer. I think they fed them to the lions in the arena. I would actually vote for that.

    The Romans kept slaves, though, so they weren’t perfect, but then so did the Americans, not so long ago.

  44. 39

    “Also show me the part where none of the numbers can be changed. You know, like the numbers relating to how much the extremely wealthy and/or corporations kick into the system.”

    Ah. Jack the rich and jack the corporations. Once again, I am not surprised by your political views.

  45. 38

    “Too bad the PTO is wasting time and resources on this lame PR stunt instead improving the Examiners’ NPL searching capabilities and giving them more time to step back and ponder the claims in front of them.

    Posted by: fisher ames | Oct 21, 2010 at 07:28 AM”

    I agree.

  46. 37

    “One problem with these criteria is that very few hopeful patent examiners are able to provide evidence that they fit these criteria.”

    lulz

  47. 36

    “Really? Prove it. Show me the math.”

    You never show the prior art when you declare claims to be obvious “crrp.” So why do I need to show the math?

  48. 35

    “Seems pretty simple. Now wait for one of the robots to tell us that we owe everything to the banksters and we must do what we are told lest the banksters take their money and go to another planet.”

    lulz.

  49. 34

    After austerity on these parasites has been implemented, THEN we can talk about whether these “entitlements” are sustainable.

    Seems pretty simple. Now wait for one of the robots to tell us that we owe everything to the banksters and we must do what we are told lest the banksters take their money and go to another planet.

  50. 33

    The issue in France, as in America, is not one of left or right, but of who should pay for the fraud of the financial parasites. Should it be the parasites themselves or the people who were defrauded and exploited?

    That’s what the “austerity” measures imposed on these various countries are really about – a transfer of wealth from the people to the financial parasites. TOTAL Austerity should be imposed upon the gangsters in the banking cartel and their prostitute government enablers (in France, this may take the form of the guillotine). After austerity on these parasites has been implemented, THEN we can talk about whether these “entitlements” are sustainable.

  51. 32

    Raising the retirement age is simply a ridiculous solution to the perceived problem.

    What’s the perceived problem? That whatever we’re told the French do, we’re not making enough of a concerted effort to do the opposite?

  52. 31

    You do understand that a retirement age of 60, together with a generous government pension, is completely unsustainable economically?

    Really? Prove it. Show me the math. Also show me the part where none of the numbers can be changed. You know, like the numbers relating to how much the extremely wealthy and/or corporations kick into the system.

    Raising the retirement age is simply a ridiculous solution to the perceived problem.

  53. 30

    so don’t call me a teebagger.

    7,

    Malcolm can’t help it – he gets all goosebumpily when he hears or uses that term.

    Must be his incredible integrity.

  54. 29

    I can see a lot of recent law grads going for this. I just graduated from a T25 and huge numbers of my classmates are still searching for work, even some of those with engineering/science undergraduate backgrounds. It’s positively Dickensian.

    Were I running a DUI law chop shop, I could be hiring freshly minted lawyers at $10 an hour.

  55. 28

    Mooney,

    You do understand that a retirement age of 60, together with a generous government pension, is completely unsustainable economically? With people living longer, and birth rates in Europe (and especially france) declining, there simply won’t be enough young workers to tax to pay the pensions of the retired workers.

    Sure it would be great if it could work. But it can’t. Well, not unless the government pension is tiny.

    But the fact that you’re a flaming liberal doesn’t surprise me one whit. And for the record, I think the tea party is mostly embarrassing, so don’t call me a teebagger.

  56. 26

    Fisher, agreed.

    ping, we can agree to disagree on my (1). On my 2 and 3, all I’m saying is that it is within the power of the judges to do something to alleviate the problems of today. As to (4) you misunderstand me. Read me again, slowly and carefully, and then tell me whether your answer above still stands.

  57. 24

    Too bad the PTO is wasting time and resources on this lame PR stunt instead improving the Examiners’ NPL searching capabilities and giving them more time to step back and ponder the claims in front of them.

  58. 23

    because Big Daddy Corporation’s mouthpiece on TV tells them to.

    Or some shill on a blog…

    comes up with… “Uh, you do ping-a-ling” – That would be a negative – Iza simply reminden ya of your creation. You own that distinction forever and a day. Or are you denying that you were the one that came up with that phrase O integrity?

    Maxie,
    Your 1) weakens, not strengthens; your 2) and 3) are simply illegal here (I done reminded ya of Tafas many times); 4) is de facto already here – if a claim be bad, it not be good and the rest of the claims stand apart.

    Like I says – ya want fewer crrp claims spewing out – put accountability where it belongs – on da examination. Here’s a hint: ITS THEIR JOB.

  59. 22

    Why not simply give more encouragement to Applicant, to take care to go to issue with claims that will stand up to scrutiny after issue?

    How to arrange this? 1) Settle validity post issue on the preponderance of evidence. 2) Stop giving any deference post-issue to the work product of a PTO Examiner prior to issue. 3) impose equitable restraints on the freedom of a patentee to amend an invalid patent and 4) the presence of even one bad claim renders the patent unenforceable till the bad claim is excised. The courts could do this, if they felt inclined. The Presumption of Validity would remain (as we have already discussed, exhaustively).

    Side effects: 1) huge boost to morale and motivation within the ranks of PTO Examiners. 2) fewer crxp claims spewing out of the PTO.

  60. 21

    Dr Zaius wrote:

    “I have legions of monkeys ready to apply. They are not educated in the strict sense of the work, but they have watched it done and would like to give it a do.”

    which made me laugh out loud because it so neatly sums up how ridiculous things are now getting. Who was it who pointed out that, if you want to get good at something, like golf, or playing a violin, the first thing you have to do is practice, for at least 10 thousand hours.

  61. 20

    who else comes up with comments like sex with dead presidents

    Uh, you do ping-a-ling. About ten times more often than anyone else, in fact.

  62. 19

    Mooney who ever said working at a law firm is a paradise?

    Nobody. I just wanted to put it out there.

    s like the riots in France nowadays. People in the US are saying “what’s up with these lazy frenchmen who think they can retire at the age of 60? I mean the GALL of these folks!!”.

    Yes, that’s what the broadcast stooges are saying.

    What my friends are saying (and what you seem to understand) is: too bad most Americans are so stooopit that they will vote against their own interests time and time and again because Big Daddy Corporation’s mouthpiece on TV tells them to.

    Then again, we live in one of the most highly educated areas in the entire world. Who are we to judge the ditto heads who are all pumped up to vote for O’Donnell, Johnson, Toomey, Angle, Miller, and the rest of the teabxgger nutcases? These m0r0ns are so ignorant that when they discover that their retirement age has been raised and their social security is disappeared, they’ll blame George Soros.

  63. 18

    Sunshine Malcolm, whatcha goin do, threaten me again, ya internet toughguy? Is this where I “should be paranoid“? Whatcha gonna do – be otch me to death? Run to the big D and whine like a sissy girl that someone’s spoofin your name or callin ya a baffon?

    What a donk ey.

    No one else would ever delight with the fact that 6 be in their head. Yet like a box O rocks, ya down right relish it. That be just twisted. I think that windmill blade done hit you too many times in the head.

    More like a straw windmill but that’s par for the course with you.

    Nothin be more chuckles then you with the same schtick. No one be more liberal with straw than you and the only trait that ya be known for more than straw is your accusin others what you be doin. Like that integrity schtick – who else comes up with comments like sex with dead presidents. Really? Just one great big tub of chuckles ya be.

  64. 17

    Mooney who ever said working at a law firm is a paradise? Hell, I’ll admit it: I’ve worked at a couple of firms and the USPTO. Just because one pile of steaming excrement stinks worse than another does not really mean anything because at the end of the day, both are just poop.

    It’s like the riots in France nowadays. People in the US are saying “what’s up with these lazy frenchmen who think they can retire at the age of 60? I mean the GALL of these folks!!”. Just because in America we are whipped like slaves and forced to work until the day we die does not mean others shouldn’t be pissed at having the same set of circumstances forced upon them (by the international rentier class).

  65. 16

    LOL these prospective patent examiners will be surprised at how quickly their “high” morale evaporates. I don’t know anyone at the USPTO with high morale except for a small pocket of sadists.

    Low morale is just a symptom of the real cause of attrition, that being inept management

    Just so everyone is clear: your typical law firm is basically a non-stop lovefest with money and perks being doled out to associates and agents like it was being dropped from a giant money tree and nobody has to do any work.

  66. 15

    As I understand it, the USPTO does not participate in the student loan forgiveness program, which irks one of my law school graduate examiner friends to no end.

  67. 14

    I have legions of monkeys ready to apply. They are not educated in the strict sense of the work, but they have watched it done and would like to give it a do.

  68. 13

    LOL these prospective patent examiners will be surprised at how quickly their “high” morale evaporates. I don’t know anyone at the USPTO with high morale except for a small pocket of sadists.

    Low morale is just a symptom of the real cause of attrition, that being inept management and a flawed system of examination.

    Also @The Corrections: AFAIK, being a patent examiner does in fact qualify you for the 10 year forgiveness program, as does virtually any government job.

  69. 12

    Because “math” has no place in science…

    You must really love those windmills you keep rambling about, ping-a-ling, because you be tilting now. More like a straw windmill but that’s par for the course with you.

    I never said that math has no place in science and I have no idea what you’re talking about.

    Is it sufficient to allow one to become an Examiner or an agent if the Examiner or agent has taken a few college math courses? Or even has a bachelor’s degree in math? Happy to be wrong if the answer is ‘yes’. Let me know, will you?

    Of course you won’t. And we know why.

  70. 10

    “the student loan-related benefits of working a public interest job”

    I have yet to see a definition of “public interest job” that includes “patent examiner.”

  71. 8

    Last Starfighter – Awesome!

    “You have been recruited by the USPTO to defend the prior art from NPE and the Tr-oll Armada”

  72. 7

    Because “math” has no place in science…

    Still waiting for you to do more than be otch from the blog pages.

  73. 6

    The Telework Improvements Act of 2010 has passed both the House and Senate, and the Senate version would allow PTO employees to work from anywhere in the US.

    Sounds like a decent gig in the making.

    So we’re encouraging patent examination by people who have demonstrate no skill or education

    Still waiting for someone to explain why there is a technical background requirement to be an Examiner when, in fact, a lot of the worse applications (and the ones responsible for much of the backlog) have more to do with accounting, advertising, entertainment or math than any kind of science.

  74. 5

    The Office is also looking to hire individuals likely to happily stay on the job

    Retention might be less of a problem if it weren’t for the requirement to live in the Alexandria, VA area. I suspect a lot of people who leave the Office do so in order to move to a place they actually want to live.

    The Telework Improvements Act of 2010 has passed both the House and Senate, and the Senate version would allow PTO employees to work from anywhere in the US. Hopefully a conference committee version will be passed during the lame duck session, or failing that shortly after the new Congress is in session.

    I know I would seriously consider being an examiner were it possible to stay in my present location, and the student loan-related benefits of working a public interest job mean that I would likely stay on the job for at least 10 years.

  75. 4

    So we’re encouraging patent examination by people who have demonstrate no skill or education.

    There’s no actual requirement that the reviewer has demonstrated no skill or education. There’s no law against random people searching for prior art to an application, the examiner (who presumably has demonstrated some skill and education) has the final say anyway, and there’s no skill or education requirement for requesting re-exam either. For that matter, there’s no skill or education requirement for patent applicants.

    Besides, as we’ve discussed at some length, nobody is going to bother anyway.

Comments are closed.