Patent Office Optimistic About Patent Applications Projections

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office expects to finish the year with a 2% decrease in the number of patent applications filed, as the agency’s interim director said the office is in a “healthy place.”

The office’s newest projections are an improvement from earlier this year, when agency leaders forecasted a nearly 4% decrease in patent filings compared to last year, fueled by feelings that businesses would tighten their budgets amid economic disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think that is actually very good news. It shows that there hasn’t been too much of an impact and decrease in ...