General Information Concering PATENTS

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The role of the USPTO is to grant patents for the protection of inventions and to register trademarks. It serves the interests of inventors and businesses with respect to their inventions and corporate products, and service identifications. It also advises and assists the President of the United States, the Secretary of Commerce, the bureaus and offices of the Department of Commerce, and other agencies of the government in matters involving all domestic and global aspects of “intellectual property.” Through the preservation, classification, and dissemination of patent information, the Office promotes the industrial and technological progress of the nation and strengthens the economy. In discharging its patent related duties, the USPTO examines applications and grants patents on inventions when applicants are entitled to them; it publishes and disseminates patent information, records assignments of patents, maintains search files of U.S. and foreign patents, and maintains a search room for public use in examining issued patents and records. The Office supplies copies of patents and official records to the public. It provides training to practitioners as to requirements of the patent statutes and regulations, and it publishes the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure to elucidate these. Similar functions are performed relating to trademarks. By protecting intellectual endeavors and encouraging technological progress, the USPTO seeks to preserve the United States’ technological edge, which is key to our current and future competitiveness. The USPTO also disseminates patent and trademark information that promotes an understanding of intellectual property protection and facilitates the development and sharing of new technologies worldwide.

Spotlight

California State Controller's Office

As the chief fiscal officer of California, the sixth largest economy in the world, Controller Betty Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. Controller Yee also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, independently audits government agencies that spend state funds, and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees. She serves on 70 boards and commissions with authority ranging from state public land management to crime victim compensation.

OTHER WHITEPAPERS
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY CONGRESSIONAL REPORT

whitePaper | July 18, 2022

The world is more peaceful, safe, and prosperous when the human rights of women are respected and they can fully participate in economic, social, and political life. But we know the enduring challenges of fulfilling that promise. A defining competition between democracies and autocracies. The COVID-19 pandemic. The climate crisis. Mass migration and displacement. The denial of education and sexual violence against women and girls across the world. No matter what global crisis unfolds—women and girls are disproportionately impacted, and that makes the world less stable.

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2020 Global & Regional Corporate Governance Trends

whitePaper | January 11, 2020

For the first time, in 2020, we see the focus on the “E” and the “S” of environment, social and governance (ESG) as the leading trend globally, including in the United States, where it traditionally has not received as much attention by boards. Indeed, many of the key global trends for 2020, such as board oversight of human capital management (HCM), can be seen as subsets of ESG.

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Funding the Global Benefits to Biopharmaceutical Innovation

whitePaper | February 12, 2020

Both the U.S. Government and biopharmaceutical industry have been central engines for developing new medical treatments and cures, thereby lowering the effective price of better health for patients worldwide. The sector has done so by being both the world leader in these biopharmaceutical cures and treatments as well as the source of the returns that are required to fund new medical R&D investments.

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THE FUTURE OF AI REGULATION: THE GOVERNMENT AS REGULATOR AND RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPANT

whitePaper | March 3, 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems have raised concerns in the public—some speculative and some based in contemporary experience. Some of these concerns overlap with concerns about privacy of data, some relate to the effectiveness of AI systems and some relate to the possibility of the misapplication of the technology. At the same time, the development of AI technology is seen as a matter of national priority, and fears of losing the “AI technology race” fuel national efforts to support its development.

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ForgeRock Identity Cloud

whitePaper | April 18, 2022

ForgeRock, the leader in digital identity management, helps customers safely and simply access the connected world. We offer a complete IAM platform to help customers transform how they can build trusted relationships with people, services, and things. Customers can monetize these relationships, address stringent regulations for privacy and consent (GDPR, HIPAA, Open Banking, etc.), and leverage the internet of things with ForgeRock. We serve hundreds of brands, including Morningstar, Vodafone, GEICO, Toyota, and Pearson, as well as governments like Norway and Canada.

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American Artificial Intelligence Initiative: Year One Annual Report

whitePaper | February 26, 2020

Continued American leadership in AI is of paramount importance to maintaining the economic and national security of the United States and to shaping the global evolution of AI in a manner consistent with our Nation's values, policies, and priorities.

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Spotlight

California State Controller's Office

As the chief fiscal officer of California, the sixth largest economy in the world, Controller Betty Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. Controller Yee also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, independently audits government agencies that spend state funds, and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees. She serves on 70 boards and commissions with authority ranging from state public land management to crime victim compensation.

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