nysepick,
I hear ya! Plus, according to a recent interview with Bill Robinson, he is expecting a "biggie" to be approved in April. If so, it will substantially change the dynamics of our IP and its place in the market.
As you know, the USPTO is simply inundated with Patent Approval Requests. They are taking some steps to help offset the workload and speed the approval process.
From wikipedia:
The PTO has about 7,300 employees, nearly all of whom are based at its huge five-building headquarters complex in Alexandria. Of those, about 3,000 are patent examiners and 400 are trademark examining attorneys; the rest are support staff. Patent examiners are generally scientists and engineers who do not necessarily hold law degrees, while all trademark examiners must be licensed attorneys. All examiners work under a strict quota system.
In recent years, the USPTO has seen increasing delays between when a patent application if filed and when it issues. To address its workload challenges, the USPTO has undertaken an aggressive program of hiring and recruitment. In Fiscal Year 2006 (year ending September 30, 2006), the USPTO hired 1,193 new patent examiners. [1] The USPTO expects to continue hiring patent examiners at a rate of 1,200 per year from 2007 through 2012.
The USPTO has also instituted a new training program for patent examiners called "Patent Examiner Training Academy." This academy is an eight-month program designed to teach new patent examiners the fundamentals of patent law, practice and examination procedure in a college-style environment. The program was begun in 2006. [2].
Take care,
GK
