United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. It is responsible for examining and granting U.S. patents for utility, design, and plant inventions, as well as registering federal trademarks for brand names, logos, and slogans. The agency maintains national IP registers and advises the U.S. government on intellectual property policy.

Operating as a performance-based and fee-funded agency since 1999, the USPTO employs over 10,000 people, primarily patent examiners and trademark examining attorneys. It manages one of the world's largest IP offices, processing several hundred thousand patent applications and over 100,000 trademark applications annually.

For businesses, the USPTO serves as the essential gateway to enforceable U.S. intellectual property rights. Patent protection supports R&D investment and product licensing, while federal trademark registration enables brand enforcement and nationwide priority claims.