US Patent and Trademark OfficeThe United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The role of the USPTO is to grant patents for the protection of inventions and to register trademarks. The USPTO examines applications and grants patents on inventions when applicants are entitled to them; it publishes and disseminates patent information, records assignments of patents, and maintains search files of U.S. and foreign patents. The Office supplies copies of patents and official records to the public.
