More than 100 Corporate Executives — Including Nike’s Phil Knight, Wieden+Kennedy’s Dan Wieden and Intel — State and City Officials, Labor Leaders and University Presidents Sign Letter Making the Case that Portland is the Best Location for a PTO and its More Than 200 Jobs
Portland, OR – Citing the state’s rich history of innovation, research capabilities, affordability, and talented workforce, Oregon’s congressional, state, city, business, labor and university leaders have signed a letter urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to locate one of three new Patent and Trademark Offices (PTO) in Portland.
“A patent office in the Portland metropolitan area would offer entrepreneurs, universities and research centers along the entire West Coast and Mountain West enhanced access to patent examiners familiar with our region’s intellectual property,” the letter reads. “Oregon’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and innovation will help the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office attract and retain skilled professionals.”
Legislation passed earlier this year authorized the Department of Commerce to establish three new satellite PTOs around the country as part of an effort to improve the efficiency and quality of the patent examination process. Earlier this month, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden brought together a group of corporate executives, patent lawyers and others to launch efforts to bring one of those offices to the Portland area.
“Oregon is synonymous with innovation — it is in our DNA,” Wyden said. “Combine that with our central west coast location, lower cost of living, and all-around livability and I think we are in the ball game in convincing the Department of Commerce that Portland is an excellent location for a Patent and Trademark Office and good for the entire country.”
The letter to Secretary of Commerce John Bryson makes the case that Oregon has a long and rich history of scientific and commercial innovation, is becoming a center for research and commercialization, and offers a quality of life and affordability that attracts trained and educated people from a variety of professions
In addition to Wyden, the letter was signed by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley; U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Peter DeFazio; governor John Kitzhaber, Portland Mayor Sam Adams and Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning.
Also signing the letter:
- Corporate leaders including Phil Knight, chairman of the Board of Nike, Inc. and Dan Wieden, co-founder and CEO of Wieden+Kennedy; and executives from Intel, Hewlett-Packard Company, adidas North America, Xerox, Daimler Trucks North America, Mentor Graphics, Tektronix, Columbia Sportswear Company and more than 30 others.
- Labor leaders including Tom Chamberlain, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO; John Mohlis, executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council; and Clif Davis, business manager and financial secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48.
- The presidents of the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Oregon Health Sciences University and Oregon Institute of Technology.
- Research institutions, business associations and patent attorneys from Portland’s largest law firms.
