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and process in the Patents organization contributes As organizational units, each pillar helps the USPTO
to patent quality in some way or another, whether it target its efforts to enhance patent quality. They also
is the specialist who reviews applications for errors help to simplify an incredibly complex and expansive
prior to examination or the patent examiner who initiative and help frame and facilitate the conversa-
actually performs it, or the hundreds of personnel tion about patent quality for both experienced and
who provide technical, legal, training, research, and novice audiences.
countless other types of support. The first pillar includes many key EPQI programs
In February 2015, Under Secretary of Commerce that enhance the job of patent examiners. Some of the
for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO programs include the development of entirely new
Michelle K. Lee (Director Lee was acting head of the protocols and processes, while other programs raise
USPTO at this time and confirmed by the Senate on awareness and provide better training and usage of
March 9, 2015) launched the Enhanced Patent Quality resources already available to examiners, of which
Initiative (EPQI). This ongoing initiative is the most there are many.
comprehensive effort the USPTO has ever undertaken The second pillar encompasses an extremely
to improve the quality of the patents and touches all important aspect of patent quality enhancement:
business units within the Patents organization. It metrics. Developing metrics for patent quality has
has also necessitated the creation of an entirely new always been a challenge, not just for the USPTO but
business unit, headed by a Deputy Commissioner for for all intellectual property offices around the world.
Patent Quality and staffed by senior Patents person- This difficulty is connected to the prior-mentioned
nel, whose focus is to analyze, improve, and ensure problem regarding the amorphous nature of the term
patent quality and oversee the implementation of “patent quality.” While quality metrics already exist at
EPQI-related programs. At every step, the USPTO the USPTO, Pillar 2 programs are taking advantage
has enlisted the help of the public to shape pilots and of lessons learned in recent years, retiring outdated
programing and offer input on ways to improve work or ineffective metrics and developing new ones that
processes, including forums, notices in the federal translate into higher accuracy and usefulness.
register, and a monthly patent quality chat webinar The third pillar focuses on the USPTO’s inter-
series that takes place on the second Tuesday of every action with customers and includes re-evaluating
month and is broadcasted live over the Internet. current pilot programs for ways to heighten their
Notably, the inaugural event of the EPQI was a pat- effectiveness at facilitating patent prosecution. A new
ent quality summit hosted at the USPTO headquar- component falling under Pillar 3 involves enhancing
ters in Alexandria, Virginia, in which stakeholders examiner-applicant interview practice. Interviews
from across the innovation community were invited are routinely viewed by both parties as effective and
to participate and offer their viewpoints on improv- efficient ways to resolve issues in an examination.
ing patent quality. As an example of how seriously Pillar 3 adds an Interview Specialist program that
the USPTO values the public’s opinion, all patent designates points of contact to act as resources for
examiners were required to watch a recording of interview policy, assists remote examiners in inter-
the summit as part of their mandatory training. The views when an on-campus presence is required, and
video, along with all components related to the EPQI, provides technical assistance to examiners and appli-
can be accessed by the general public on the USPTO cants during the interview.
website. These are just a small sampling of the ways in
The EPQI has identified three “pillars” that con- which the EPQI is addressing patent quality. The
tribute to overall patent quality: entire list may be reviewed on the USPTO’s website.
• Pillar 1: Excellence in Work Products Outside the scope of the EPQI, the USPTO is
• Pillar 2: Excellence in Measuring Patent Quality working on exciting ways to enhance patent quality
• Pillar 3: Excellence in Customer Service by harnessing the power of big data analysis and
artificial intelligence.