Through the issuance of patents, the USPTO encourages technological advancement by providing incentives to invent, invest in, and disclose new technology worldwide. Through the registration of trademarks, the agency assists businesses in protecting their investments, promoting goods and services, and safeguarding consumers against confusion and deception in the marketplace. By disseminating both patent and trademark information, the USPTO promotes an understanding of intellectual property protection and facilitates the development and sharing of new technologies worldwide.

Throughout history, inventions have helped people discover new worlds, build communities, develop resources, increase productivity, cure diseases, ease burdens, and enjoy life to the fullest. The USPTO plays a vital role in the scientific, technical and economic development of our nation by granting inventors patents for their inventions.

Millions of inventors have sought protection for their inventions through the USPTO. From Thomas Edison’s electric lamp and Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, to the Wright brothers’ flying machine and John Deere’s steel plow and more, the great innovative spirit of our nation has been supported by the USPTO.

Our nation’s founders recognized the importance of intellectual property, and included provisions for its protection and encouragement in the Constitution….

George Washington signed the first patent statute into law on April 10, 1790. On July 31 of that year, Samuel Hopkins of Philadelphia, Pa., received the first U.S. patent for an improvement in the “making of pot ash and pearl ash by a new apparatus and process.”

Trademarks are as important as patents in protecting the intellectual property rights of individuals and companies. In 1870, Congress enacted the first U.S. trademark law. It was later declared unconstitutional because it was improperly based on the patent and copyright clause in the Constitution. It wasn’t until 1881 that a new law, based upon the commerce clause, was
passed.

Today, America’s inventive spirit is one of our most treasured and envied assets. The USPTO works to record, share, and preserve this inventive spirit. Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is at the cutting edge of the Nation’s technological progress and achievement.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency within the Department of Commerce (DOC). Under the direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO, this federal agency is responsible for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. In doing this, the USPTO fulfills the mandate of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution.

The USPTO advises the President of the United States, the Secretary of Commerce, and U.S. Government agencies on intellectual property (IP) policy, protection, and enforcement; and promotes stronger and more effective IP protection around the world.

The first U.S. patent was granted in 1790 to Samuel Hopkins of Philadelphia for “making pot and pearl ashes”-a cleaning formula used in soapmaking.

The USPTO furthers effective IP protection for U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide by working with other agencies to secure strong IP provisions in free trade and other international agreements. It also provides training, education, and capacity building programs designed to foster respect for IP and encourage the development of strong IP enforcement regimes by U.S. trading partners.

The USPTO has evolved into a unique government agency. In 1991 – under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990 – the USPTO became fully supported by user fees to fund its operations. In 1999, the American Inventors Protection Act established the USPTO as an agency with performance-based attributes; for example, a clear mission statement, measurable services and a performance measurement system, and predictable sources of funding.

The USPTO is more than an approval system – it houses one of the largest repositories of scientific and technical knowledge in the world. It is an organization dedicated to the promotion and progress of science and the useful arts, to bolstering the strength and vitality of the U.S. economy by protecting new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity.

The construction of the campus in Alexandria, Va., was completed in 2005. As one of the largest federal facilities in the country, the USPTO campus consists of five main buildings arranged in a U-shaped pattern with a complementary open-ended U-shaped courtyard in the center. The five main buildings--Remsen, Jefferson, Madison, Knox, and Randolph–are named for men who played important roles in establishing America’s intellectual property protection system. James Madison is generally credited with writing Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution, which provides the basis for this country’s intellectual property protection system. Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, Henry Knox as Secretary of War, and William Randolph as Attorney General comprised the first patent board. They met every Saturday to review applications and issue patents. Henry Remsen was the first clerk of the patent board.

The two million square feet campus houses about 9,000 highly skilled and professional employees and the agency’s museum.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Museum is the agency’s opportunity to showcase how the U.S. patent and trademark systems protect and encourage innovation and the men and women whose creativity has helped foster a strong and prosperous America.

The USPTO Museum features an interactive exhibit area, theatre and store.

The museum currently hosts several interactive exhibits, including the “Art of Invention – Invention of Art,” which features 70 works of art that emerged from inventions, patents and trademarks. The inventors and artists represented in this exhibit produced artistic treasures that also serve a practical purpose.

The museum’s latest addition, a novel high tech “Portrait Gallery” features digital electronic portraits of U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison; the famous inventor Thomas Edison; National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees Helen Free, who developed home testing for diabetes, and Steve Wozniak, the inventor and co-founder of Apple Computer; and USPTO Director Jon Dudas.

Through its exhibits, visitors enjoy the ingenuity of mankind and become aware of the vital role that intellectual property plays in every aspect of our lives. The museum and gift shop were developed and are maintained by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.

The museum is located in the atrium of the Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Va., and is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday, noon - 5:00 p.m., closed on Sundays and federal holidays. Admission is free.