Are there limitations on the number of positions or personnel at the USPTO?
No, there are no administratively or statutorily imposed limitations on the number of positions or personnel at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This is explicitly stated in MPEP 1001, which quotes the relevant statute:
“The Office shall not be subject to any administratively or statutorily imposed limitation on positions or personnel, and no positions or personnel of the Office shall be taken into account for purposes of applying any such limitation“
This provision ensures that the USPTO has the flexibility to adjust its workforce as needed to meet the demands of patent and trademark examination and related activities, without being constrained by external limitations on staffing levels.
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