USPTO Responds to IBM VP's Criticism

In response to IBM Vice President for Intellectual Property and Standards Jim Stallings' criticism of the U.S. Patent Office at a media event in New York City, USPTO Deputy Commissioner for Patent Exam Policy Joseph Rolla reportedly told TechNewsWorld that the work load doesn't have an effect on an examiner's case research. "They spend the same time searching a case regardless of the workload that's here," he noted. "Patent examiners have access to some of the best tools in the world and a great classification system. Our search tools give our examiners the best opportunity to find the most relevant prior art," he said.