What is Obama’s FY 2011 USPTO budget request?

Budget totals $2.322B, funds 1,000 examiner hires yearly for 2011-12, fee hikes for $224M extra, aims to cut patent pendency.

Did the USPTO hiring surge reduce patent backlog?

Yes, somewhat — pendency dropped to under 30 months short-term, but backlog persisted due to rising filings.

Large corporations with resources for fee hikes; small inventors faced higher costs without proportional speed gains.

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David Kappos touts Obama's FY 2011 USPTO budget as innovation rocket fuel. I've seen these promises before — let's cut the spin.

theAIcatchup Apr 10, 2026 4 min read

Obama's budget requested $2.3B for USPTO, including 1,000 annual examiner hires and $224M fee increases. 𝕏
Promises targeted backlog reduction and IT upgrades, but historical patterns suggest limited long-term success. 𝕏
Benefits skewed toward big players, raising questions on equity for independent inventors. 𝕏

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#David Kappos #Obama FY 2011 #USPTO budget #patent backlog #patent examiners

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Originally reported by IPWatchdog