Congressman Johnson Lauds USPTO Announcement On Opening Atlanta Regional Office

Ranking Member of Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Applauds U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Decision To Place Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, applauded Director Kathi Vidal’s announcement that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is establishing a Southeastern Regional Office in Atlanta under direction of the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022.

“For years, I have reminded the world that Atlanta is not just a hub for culture and creativity, but also for technology and innovation,” said Rep. Johnson, ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. “I’m so grateful that PTO Director Vidal agrees. The Unleashing American Innovators Act was designed to increase participation in the patent system by women, people of color, military veterans, individual inventors, and other groups that are underrepresented in the system, and I cannot imagine a better place to start than Atlanta.”

According to the USPTO, the new regional office will serve as an extension of the agency’s outreach operations. The office will function as an important resource center to better serve local inventors and entrepreneurs, including those from underrepresented backgrounds. The new regional office in Atlanta is expected to be fully opened and operational by December 2025.

As the longtime senior Democrat on the Courts, Intellectual Property and Internet Subcommittee, Congressman Johnson has been pushing for Atlanta to be the site of the USPTO's new regional office. 

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