The USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is the US agency responsible for intellectual property, namely for examining, registering, and issuing patents and trademarks in the United States, as well as managing and publishing intellectual property rights.
Its main tasks are:
- Examining patent applications and verifying the novelty, inventiveness, and industrial applicability of inventions.
- Registering and protecting trademarks, verifying their distinctiveness and availability.
- Maintaining and publishing public databases on patents and trademarks to enable prior art searches and technology monitoring.
- Providing resources, guides and services for American inventors, businesses and IP lawyers.
The USPTO is a key player in the legal and commercial protection of intellectual property in the United States.