The Director’s Roundtable on the Patent and Trademark Depository Program, was held at USPTO headquarters on February 15, 2011. The participants included Moderator David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, USPTO; John Owens, Chief Information Officer, USPTO; Marian Armour-Gemmen, Vice-President/President-Elect, PTDLA, Evansdale Library, West Virginia University; Joanne Colvin, Associate Director, Public Services, University of Baltimore Law Library; Michele Crecca, Senior Business & IP Information Specialist, IBM Corporation; Jim Crowne, Director of Legal Affairs, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); Holly Higgins, Acting Director, Office of Information Management Services, USPTO; Donald Kelly, National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP); Christine Kitchens, Manager, PTDLP, USPTO; Bob Klein, President, PTDLA, Miami-Dade Public Library; Jim Miller, Treasurer, PTDLA, Engineering and Physical Sciences Library, University of Maryland; Ted Parr, Group Director, Public Information Services Group (PISG), USPTO; Martha Sneed, Division Director, Public Search Services Division (PSSD), USPTO; Mark Sweeney, Division Chief, Library of Congress, Serials & Government Publications Division; and Bambi Walters, United Inventors Associations of America.

Mr. Kappos noted the importance of the PTDLP, its service to the business and inventor communities throughout the country, its outreach programs, and its status as a model for programs in other countries. He thanked the staffs of the PTDLs, reiterated his belief in our Program, and noted the changes that have occurred in the program since patents were first offered, in printed format, to depository libraries in 1871. He noted our acquisition of electronic resources, including those available through the Internet, and our role as centers of innovation. His emphasis was on determining ways in which we could become the best possible centers of innovation, and help stimulate employment, by providing enhanced services.

Attendees from the PTDLA provided comments on the differences between public and academic PTDLs, the common provision of chat services by PTDLs and other libraries, and the important role PTDLs fulfill in assisting those members of the public seeking patent and trademark information (Bob Klein); the importance and value of search training (Jim Miller); the confidentiality constraints under which PTDL librarians operate and possible ways to reduce them (Joanne Colvin); and more USPTO-provided information on inductees to the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame for use in displays (Marian Armour Gemmen).

There were also questions and comments submitted by web participants including several by PTDL librarians/PTDLA members. Dave Morrison requested access to full-text searchable patents back to 1790. Ran Raider requested PTDLs be provided improved access to sources of non-patent literature. Walt Johnson, Suzanne Reinman, Martin Wallace, John Schlipp, and Charlotte Erdmann also submitted comments.

Mr. Owens commented on a suggestion to provide PTDLs with access to EAST, noting the technical difficulties in providing access to all of the examiners. He noted the improvements, both planned and in the works, which may provide access to additional users; and his concerns for the security of EAST. Mr. Owens mentioned the introduction of “universal” laptops for examiners, with Beta testing planned to begin in March, which would allow use of “virtual services” similar to chat and e- reference (e-mail). He mentioned plans to make use of Webex for online conferencing services at USPTO, and the possible installation of kiosks offering text, audio, and video services at PTDLs. Mr. Kappos also mentioned the use of video conferencing as a possible way to relay USPTO programs to audiences at the PTDLs.

Other participants also provided questions, suggestions and comments such as the desire for improved access to assignment documents and video conferencing services for face-to-face discussions with the examiners, including document sharing capability; the provision of resources available at the Public Search Facility to the PTDLs; the replacement of TIFF with another image storage file format; other improvements in web service, e.g., for displaying patents; improved access to Trademark Document Retrieval (TDR), possibly moving it to the “cloud”; improvement in promotion and marketing efforts to attract new patrons to the of PTDLs, including the possible rebranding of PTDLs (possibly dropping the word “Depository “ in recognition of the fact that the document depository function is no longer representative of the myriad products and services the PTDLs currently provide nor of the prospective future activities in which we may participate).

Participants noted advanced features available on other databases, including WEST and EAST, which would be particularly useful to users of the USPTO website. Martha Sneed noted that some features available on Cassis are not yet available elsewhere.

The discussion and Mr. Kappos’ rmarks, questions, and guidance at the Roundtable were very encouraging for the future of the PTDLP.

Beginning with the PTDLA Executive Council‘s meeting with Director Kappos in June, 2010, arranged through the efforts of Andy Wohrley, PTDLA President, 2009-2010, and continuing with the Roundtable discussion, the efforts initiated at our Program office, throughout the greater USPTO, and by the PTDLA have certainly enhanced the PTDLP’s prospects for a continuing, active, and exciting role as a vital, cooperative part of the USPTO’s outreach efforts. I look forward to the 2011 Seminar and the further dialogue, training, and other opportunities we will share.

Many thanks to Marian Armour-Gemmen, whose notes greatly enhanced this report. Thanks also to PTDLA Secretary Martin Wallace, for producing Executive Committee resolutions recognizing outstanding recent retirees Becky Scarborough, Godlind Johnson, and Marjory Cameron; and for sending copies of the resolutions issued in 2010 recognizing Carol Giles-Straight , Margaret Collins, Karon King, and Dawn Rohan.