As part of a proposed $2.57 trillion fiscal year 2006 budget request for the USPTO is $1.7 billion, equaling anticipated FY 2006 fee collections from patent and trademark filings. The request represents a $149 million increase over FY 2005, and reflects an anticipated rise in patent and trademark fee collections. As part of the 21st Century Strategic Plan, the USPTO plans to hire 900 patent examiners and 75 trademark examining attorneys in FY 2006.
This sounds good but I’m waiting to see if this holds up in light of the record deficits – a projected a $390 billion deficit for next year, down from $427 billion this year.
