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Daily Archives: August 26, 2005

Panel Recommends Congress Create A U.S. Patent and Trademark Corporation

From the National Academy of Public Administration: “…an Academy Panel examined USPTO’s organization structure and its work processes to help ensure that USPTO is making progress in meeting workload challenges and implementing its strategic plan. The Panel found that without the ability to adjust its resources to workload, USPTO cannot efficiently respond to higher volumes of patent applications or new skill needs for staff. As a self-sustaining federal entity that performs a direct service for fee-paying customers, USPTO needs to be able to function like a business and report to Congress and the administration with a bottom-line set of financial statements. The Academy Panel recommends that Congress create a U.S. Patent and Trademark Corporation as a wholly owned government entity under the policy direction of the Secretary of Commerce.”

  • US Patent and Trademark Office: Transforming to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century (A Report by a panel of the National Academy of Public Administration for the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) – 298 pages, PDF.
  • Patriot Act Used to Demand Library Patron Records

    Several articles today highlight the significance of yesterday’s ALCU announcement that the government has used authority granted by the Patriot Act, Sec. 505, on National Security Letters, to obtain copies of patron internet related activities from a library institution whose identity cannot be disclosed. The following quote from ALA’s Patrice McDermott is included in the… Continue Reading

    Online, Searchable Directory of Libraries Worldwide

    “lib-web-cats is a directory of libraries worldwide. While the majority of the current listings are in North America, the numbers of libraries represented in other parts of the globe is growing. Each listing includes links to the library’s website and online catalog. Other information available includes the geographic location, address, library type, current and previous… Continue Reading