OIG Review of Complaints and Cocerns Related to PTO'S Handling of Patent Applications 09/253,506 and 09/940,607

摘要

On March 31, 2003, the Office of Inspector General received a letter from an individual requesting that we investigate charges that United States Patent and Trademark Office personnel had not properly processed patent applications 09/253,506 and 09/940,607, and had manipulated PTO's Patent Application Location and Monitoring (PALM) system for personal gain. We reviewed the complainant's concerns and condensed them into six main issues. In addition, our office was asked by the finance counsel for the House Small Business Committee to investigate this complainant's issues. In short, we determined that two of the six issues raised by the complainant were supportable.