Judges Begin Work in Colorado Patent Office

The first three administrative patent judges assigned to the new United States Patent and Trademark (USPTO) office in Colorado begin their first day on the job today. The judges will work out of the temporary space in Lakewood until renovations at the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building in Denver are completed.

“This is a milestone moment for everyone in the state who fought to bring a satellite patent office to Colorado,” U.S. Senator Michael Bennet said. “It’s the beginning of more jobs and increased economic development for the state. These judges will provide easier access for applicants and inventors in our region while helping Colorado’s innovative and entrepreneurial companies maintain our state’s reputation as a hotbed for cutting-edge industries. It’s exciting to watch the continued progress toward getting the Denver patent office fully up and running, and I wish these judges the best of luck as the begin their new jobs.”

“Our new Patent Trial and Appeal Board judges are eager to get to work,” said Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting USPTO Director Teresa Stanek Rea. “They will be instrumental in administering the new in-house review process for challenging granted patents, which will ultimately reduce the costs associated with patent litigation.”

“It’s exciting and rewarding to know that after years of a very thorough and collaborative effort by our public and private leaders across Colorado, we are officially starting the process that we know will put our entire Rocky Mountain region at the forefront of innovation and opportunity for decades to come,” said John Posthumus, an IP attorney with Sheridan Ross P.C. who played a key role in securing the patent office in Colorado. “With boots on the ground, we begin the transformation from our collective vision to implementation as we help drive our economy and enhance our reputation as business and technology leaders.”

The new review process was established by the America Invents Act signed into law in 2011.

Bennet helped lead the effort to bring the satellite office to Colorado. He authored an amendment that instructed the USPTO to open three new satellite offices around the country. Bennet then led a bipartisan effort with the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and Sheridan Ross, PC that included leaders from government, the business community, academia and from communities across the state to make the case for Colorado.