First U.S. Patent Satellite Branch Will Open in Detroit

The Alexandria, VA-based U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced this week that it will create its first satellite branch in Detroit. It is expected to be operational by July and help expedite the patent process. Good for Detroit and Great Lakes Region where innovation and engineering has a rich history!

The choice of Detroit as the site for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's first satellite facility has both strategic and symbolic value.

It makes sense to locate a patent office in a region with a strong tradition of engineering, manufacturing and design innovation. Despite the American auto industry's challenges of the past decade, Detroit remains the Motor City, where products are constantly being invented, improved and redesigned.

Opening a first-of-its-kind satellite office will expedite the process of applying for patents, which we hope will translate into the creation of new jobs.

Beyond the practicality of having a satellite patent office in Motown, it is symbolic that the federal government recognizes that Michigan, among the most economically battered of states, still retains a talented and creative work force that will play a key role in developing an inventive new economy for the future. In addition to automotive-related technology, the state also is moving forward in areas such as clean energy, agriculture and advanced batteries, all of which hold promise for new innovations.