In light of Acting Director TERESA REA’s April 18 memo to employees announcing cuts in USPTO spending on hiring, travel, training, and information technology through September 30, IPO is studying what can be done to mitigate the effects of the “sequester” of patent and trademark fees. More than $100 million may be at stake. Options may include urging the Office of Management and Budget to change its interpretation of how the sequestration law applies to fee-funded agencies and seeking legislation to exempt fee-funded agencies. IPO DAILY NEWS will publish a series of items on sequestration this week.
