What does the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) do in the USA?

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is part of the US Department of Commerce and is funded by the fees it collects. Its main job, as outlined in the US Constitution, is to encourage innovation by granting patents, which give inventors exclusive rights to their creations, and managing trademarks, which protect brand names and logos.

After careful review, the USPTO registers trademarks or service marks on either the Principal or Supplemental Register, depending on how unique the mark is. The office is important for supporting business activities across state lines and internationally, working alongside state trademark offices in the US.