USPTO’s satellite offices support the agency’s mission to foster the growing contribution that intellectual property makes to the growing economy. The America Invents Act (AIA) dictates that at least three satellite offices be established by the USPTO in three years. The Detroit satellite office is the first of four selected by the USPTO to increase outreach, improve retention and recruitment of patent examiners, decrease the patent application backlog and improve the quality of examination. It is the first stage of the USPTO’s Nationwide Workforce Program, which has been working to recruit more experienced patent professionals with the intention that these individuals will be more productive and have a higher retention rate.
The city of Detroit is an important national innovation center and has a high percentage of scientists and engineers in the workforce. Detroit is also home to major resource institutions and leading universities which allows for recruitment of experienced patent professionals. The office also serves as a valuable resource to entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the Midwest.
Parking
Visitors may park in the visitor parking lot (directly across the street from 300 River Place). Self-park your car, pay the valet attendant $4.00 and receive a ticket. You can have the ticket validated by Security in the lobby when you sign in. Present the validated ticket to the valet attendant as you leave; your money will be refunded at that time. Note: If you opt to park your car through the valet attendant, the cost is $5 and will not be reimbursed.
Building Access
Proceed to the Security Desk and sign-in. The security guards will contact the USPTO to confirm access. They will direct you to a bank of elevators. Proceed to the 2nd floor and upon exiting, you will see the suite entrance for Suite 2900. Once you arrive, please ring the doorbell for admittance.
Services
Public Searching
Universal Public Workstations at the Elijah J. McCoy USPTO Satellite Office in Detroit provide access to the agency’s public electronic patent and trademark collections. The public search room is designed to enable individual researchers to conduct self-directed searches. The Detroit office has two public workstations available for conducting searches that have the same access requirements and print capabilities as identical public workstations in USPTO’s Public Search Facility. Customers who have limited experience in patent or trademark searching, or are new to the subject area of patents and trademarks, are strongly encouraged to first contact or pay a visit to the Detroit Public Library. The Detroit Public Library is a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) that offers beginner orientation on searching for patents and trademarks and is located about four miles from the Detroit office.
Public searching on universal public workstations is available from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday, except federal holidays.
The Public Search Facility at USPTO's Alexandria, Va. headquarters offers access to additional collections and services.
Interviews
Video conferencing equipment is available for use for patent application interviews and can be scheduled once an interview has been set up with an applicant’s respective examiner. Please work with your examiner to schedule an interview at the Detroit Satellite Office using video conferencing equipment. For any additional assistance, please to contact the Detroit office at (313) 446-4800.
Patent Trial and Appeal Board
Judges for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in Detroit work in conjunction with judges at the USPTO’s main campus in Alexandria, Va.