Tehran, March 26: The head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) stated that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring significant changes to the patent system. He defended the reforms aimed at reducing delays and improving patent quality.
USPTO Director John Schuyler testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Wednesday, revealing that the agency is utilizing AI tools to expedite patent examinations and reduce the growing backlog of applications.
Schuyler told lawmakers, “AI tools will become superpowers for our examiners.” He added that new systems can quickly identify prior art and assist examiners in managing increasingly complex files.
He noted that the office has already begun integrating AI into patent and trademark processes, including tools that generate search results in seconds rather than months.
Schuyler presented this initiative as part of a broader campaign to modernize the agency and strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem. He referred to the USPTO as the “central bank of innovation,” stating that each patent or trademark represents “a potential job, a new business, a competitive advantage.”
The agency also aims to reduce the number of pending patent applications, which have surged to historic levels. Schuyler emphasized ongoing efforts to significantly lower the number of pending applications while improving patent quality.
However, lawmakers criticized these reforms, with Democrats warning that policy changes could weaken oversight and politicize a traditionally independent agency.
Senior member Hank Johnson expressed concerns that the USPTO has been “dragged into partisan politics,” raising issues about employee morale and changing regulations.
Johnson stated, “When policy changes align with the political whims of an administration, American innovation pays the price.”
A major point of contention was the agency’s approach to handling patent challenges under the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Critics argued that limiting repeated challenges could allow weak patents to remain valid and increase litigation costs.
Schuyler defended these changes, asserting that they aim to prevent abuse of the system and provide final resolution to disputes.
He remarked, “There should come a time when there is a clear right to ownership of property, and that should be the final decision.”
Lawmakers also expressed concerns about foreign influence and national security risks, including the role of foreign-backed entities in patent disputes.
Schuyler stated that the USPTO has taken steps to tighten disclosure rules and prevent foreign sovereign entities from participating in certain proceedings.
During the hearing, a controversial trademark filing related to the proposed “Board of Peace” initiative was discussed, with some lawmakers questioning potential conflicts of interest.
The USPTO received over 475,000 new patent applications in fiscal year 2025, reflecting a consistent rise in demand for intellectual property protection.
Schuyler indicated that managing this demand will rely heavily on AI and IT modernization, along with ongoing funding through user fees.
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