PTO Open During Shutdown, at Least Until Money Runs Out in ‘Few Weeks’

The Patent and Trademark Office remains in “normal operating status” during the federal government shutdown, said the agency’s website. PTO has access to “prior-year fee collections,” which will enable it to continue normal operations for a “few weeks,” it said. If that money dries up before the shutdown ends, PTO would need to cease operations, though “a small staff would continue to work to accept new applications and maintain IT infrastructure,” it said.