Layoffs Are Coming, Patent Office’s Administrative Judges Told

The top judge of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s administrative tribunal told its judges to prepare for a reduction in force.

In an email sent to Patent Trial and Appeal Board judges Friday and reviewed by Bloomberg Law, Chief Administrative Patent Judge Scott Boalick said, “our organization is expected to experience staff reductions” after the April 17 deadline for employees to accept offers of early retirement or buyouts extended to PTO staff—except for patent and trademark examiners—earlier this week.

The email was the first official communication with PTO employees about potential layoffs, according to two sources who received it. ...