Trade Secrets to Promoting Diversity of Patent Practitioners

Abstract

This article responds to the following question presented by the National Strategy for Expanding American Innovation: “What are ways of promoting diversity in the corps of intellectual property attorneys and agents who represent innovators?” The article recommends increasing the diversity of patent practitioners by (i) expanding the pipeline of students who aspire to become patent practitioners, and (ii) removing systemic barriers these students face at the USPTO.

Keywords: Patent, patent agent, patent practitioner, reciprocal agent, limited recognition, patent lawyer, patent attorney, patent bar, general requirements bulletin