USPTO

Will you be gifting roses for Mother’s Day this Sunday? 🌹 Know that there’s innovation behind the bloom. Plant Patent No. 636, a hybrid tea rose plant, reminds us of the patience, care, and dedication that Mother’s Day honors. It was carefully cross-bred to be extremely healthy, disease-resistant, and virtually free of thorns. Like many mothers and mother figures, it’s known for its remarkable strength and beauty. Happy (early) Mother’s Day from the USPTO! Plant patent photo: University of Maryland

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has just released the 2026 edition of its annual Special 301 Report, a congressionally mandated annual review of the global state of intellectual property rights (IP) protection and enforcement. Each year, the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs is intimately involved in the compilation of the Special 301 Report and is a major contributor to the research and analysis underlying it. The 2026 edition identifies inadequacies in IP protection and enforcement among U.S. trading partners that disadvantage U.S. rights holders. These include six countries on its “Priority Watch List”—with Vietnam added as a market of special concern—and 19 other foreign markets, including the European Union, on its “Watch List.” Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4cRXWWx #USPTO #IPenforcement

No one told you your next career could be this way. 👏👏👏 On the anniversary of the final air date of Friends, we’re celebrating big ideas, strong teams, and opportunities to be there for innovation. Whether you’re looking for a fresh start, a new pivot, or your next career opportunity, the USPTO could be where your career takes off. So don’t go on a break from your job search – explore our roles: https://bit.ly/3C0jvQM

When Alice Stoll patented a heat-resistant fiber known as Nomex®, her invention was put into use by the very branch of the military she served: the US Navy. After earning her degree in chemistry and physics just prior to World War II, Stoll enlisted and followed up her active service with two decades in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She developed the Stoll Curve to measure the human body’s tolerance to centrifugal acceleration and then burns. Using this data, she proved fire resistant fabrics were the best way to prevent severe burns and invented Nomex®, a heat-resistant fiber. As we recognize Military Appreciation Month in May, we celebrate inventors like Stoll who made a difference with both their innovative minds and their dedication to service.

Starting June 18, you’ll need to have a USPTO.gov account to access the Open Data Portal. This effort helps ensure our site continues to perform and paves the way for future offerings. It’s easy to create a new USPTO.gov account. To learn more, check out our site: data.uspto.gov.

The USPTO is hiring a Technology Center Group Director to help lead patent examination operations. In this senior leadership role, you’ll oversee patent examining groups, implement policy and procedure, guide staffing and resource decisions, support performance management, adjudicate petitions, and help advance the mission of the agency. This position plays a key role in strengthening patent examination processes and supporting innovation across the United States. If you’re an experienced leader ready to make an impact at America’s Innovation Agency, apply now: https://bit.ly/3QUGRm5

Happy Star Wars Day! We celebrate the heroes and the villains of a galaxy far, far away—along with the intellectual property that protects them. Design patents cover characters and objects like R2-D2, Admiral Ackbar, Yoda, and Snowspeeders. Characters like Darth Vader and Stormtroopers as well as popular phrases like "May the Force be with you" are registered trademarks for products and services ranging from clothing to Christmas tree ornaments. Even Darth Vader's iconic breathing is a registered sound mark. May the Force of IP be with you.

We added new filing options to Trademark Center. Now you can: • Update owner or attorney contact information • Change or withdraw attorney representation • Submit certain registration maintenance and renewal filings The mark description generator is designed to help applicants but doesn’t replace legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, consider hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney.

United States Patent and Trademark Office Director John A. Squires delivered a rousing keynote address this morning at the INTA Annual Meeting held in London, looking out ahead as to what’s next in the world of the ‘new and the next.’ The Director regaled conference attendees with how America’s Branding Agency is stepping up to meet the moment and empower those brave enough daring to tame the new frontier of personal branding, NIL and Trademarks. His address to an international audience, entitled, “Where the Puck is Going: Branding America’s Branding Agency to Meet NIL and the Trademark Issues of Tomorrow” provided insights from the “very American” intersection of collegiate athletics and professional sports, like name, image and likeness. His remarks described practitioners “[t]aking a page out of Matthew McConaughey’s and Taylor Swift’s new playbook,” wherein the best defense against AI deepfakes may be a good offense with federal trademark registration. “What does this bold move mean more globally for entertainment stars, influencers and personal branders seeking protection beyond current right to publicity regimes?” Director Squires asked. Read his as-delivered remarks here: https://bit.ly/4f1XaHP

Our mark description and color claim generator is live. This AI assistant helps you draft trademark descriptions in minutes. The mark description generator is designed to help applicants but doesn’t replace legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, consider hiring a U.S.-licensed trademark attorney. Start here: trademarkcenter.uspto.gov