US Patent Office Kicks into High Gear, Resulting in Record Highs for Rochester Patent Index

ALBANY, NY (07/19/2010)(readMedia)-- Hoffman Warnick LLC (HW), an intellectual property law firm headquartered in Albany, NY, presents the Rochester Patent Index. The Rochester Patent Index tracks the number of patents issued to inventors residing in the greater Rochester area (Monroe and Ontario Counties) each quarter. Similar to the Hoffman Warnick Tech Valley Patent Index that tracks patent activity in the Tech Valley region, the Rochester Patent Index is intended to provide a quarterly indicator of the technological trends of the Rochester region.

As can be seen in the accompanying graph, the number of patents issued in the Rochester area skyrocketed for the second straight quarter and was particularly strong for non-Xerox and non-Kodak inventors. "Much of this growth can be explained by the Patent Office's attempts to attack their backlog, which is apparent by the record high number of patents issued nationally" stated Michael Hoffman, partner at Hoffman Warnick. "At the same time, I think it speaks volumes for the 'intellectual capital' present in the Rochester area, and the tremendous potential for the region. We see Rochester as a high growth area, and are currently seeking to open a satellite office in Rochester to better serve our growing client base."

Hoffman added that "a great deal of the shift towards accelerating the issuance of patents has resulted from the appointment of the US Patent Office's new Director, David Kappos, a former IBM Chief IP Counsel. Remarkably, after setting a record for the number of patents issued in the first quarter, the number jumped again by close to 9000 patents in the second quarter. This is welcome news for those long suffering inventors and companies that have continually been plagued by the Patent Office backlog."

To obtain a pdf of this quarter's Patent Index, please e-mail hwemail@hoffmanwarnick.com or visit www.hoffmanwarnick.com.

About Hoffman Warnick LLC: Hoffman Warnick LLC is an intellectual property law firm focusing on biotechnology, nanotechnology, computers and software, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and materials engineering. Hoffman Warnick is committed to providing the highest quality services including: domestic and international property rights procurement, dispute resolution, and licensing.