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Why no USPTO branch offices?
Posted by Anonymous . updated on 2/26/2009
Is there some reason that the USPTO needs to perform examination in a centralized location? I can understand why that would have been necessary back when searching meant physically going through paper archives, but that is not the case anymore.
Around metro Detroit, there are many unemployed engineers that would be highly qualified to take jobs as patent examiners, but the majority of them are not likely to move to Alexandria. For one thing, they can't sell their current houses. The PTO would need to transfer a core group of examiners to start up a branch office, but the branch office would be self-sufficient within a few years.
Answers (6)
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ababab
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It's a good question, and one that's been asked many times before in the last decade or two. A couple of years ago it even seemed like a reasonable possibility.
Instead, it seems the PTO has focused more on expanding its "hoteling" program, under which an examiner who's worked in Alexandria for at least 2 years (check the PTO employment thread for more exact details) can start working from home via laptop from anywhere in the country.
But hoteling has distinct limitations. It makes interviewing a case more difficult, and access to centralized resources and training more limited. Similar concerns would apply to starting a branch PTO office, but the logistics would seem a bit easier than under the hoteling program. Existing examiners and their union are more interested in hoteling availability, however. There may be other "political" considerations also.
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horsech...
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"Around metro Detroit, there are many unemployed engineers that would be highly qualified to take jobs as patent examiners"
They are proabably afraid that if they hired them, they would unionize.
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freepat...
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They should open one up in Austin, TX. lots of tech people, low cost of living, fun town and centrally located. 
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Lightni...
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The hoteling program seems like it would help with retention, but not with recruiting. Someone with a house they cannot sell in Detroit is still faced with having to live within commuting distance of Alexandria for two years.
In order to get past the issues with access to training and centralized resources, the branch offices would need to be large enough to get a critical mass. How many employees would be necessary in order for the branch office to run its own training program?
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ababab
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Quote from: Lightning50 on 02-17-09 at 08:29 pm The hoteling program seems like it would help with retention, but not with recruiting. Someone with a house they cannot sell in Detroit is still faced with having to live within commuting distance of Alexandria for two years.
According to latest news and rumors, recruiting may be less of a concern at the PTO these days, in view of the state of the economy and the labor market.
Hiring slowdown?
Hiring freeze?
Reduction in force (gasp!) ?
Tune in next week, boys and girls!
I heard that applications fell by 20% in Jan. and because they were expecting some growth, they need to cut back on new hires by a few hundred from 1200.
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horsech...
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"According to latest news and rumors, recruiting may be less of a concern at the PTO these days"
True, but there would be other advantages to locating in Detroit, like lots of "scabs" to replace the examiners if they ever went on strike (like they almost once did at the EPO). I once heard about a search firm that relocated to Detroit to take advantage of the unemployment, and it supposedly worked swimmingly.
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