A series of executive orders from President Donald Trump, which includes requiring federal employees to return to work in person, has left many in the patent bar concerned that US Patent and Trademark Office employees may quit.
Bracewell’s Kit Crumbley told Managing Intellectual Property that supervisory patent examiners have significant experience and institutional knowledge of the agency which would be very difficult to replace in the short term.
“If they’re unable or unwilling to return to office on the timeline that the administration wants, I think we’re looking at the strong possibility of a brain drain within the agency.”
Crumbley noted that the patent office is a fee-funded and production-focused agency and that a certain headcount is needed to keep up with the work. He added that the office needs a steady headcount increase to stay abreast of the uptick in applications.
