GAO report harshly criticizes USPTO information technology efforts

The Government Accountability Office has issued a report of its review of the progress of the USPTO on its various patent automation projects, including the Image File Wrapper (IFW) system and the Electronic Filing System (EFS).

View and/or download a .pdf of the report here.

The Report is harshly critical of the Office, noting top-level failures:

“USPTO’s ineffective planning and management of its patent automation projects, in large measure, can be attributed to enterprise-level, systemic weaknesses in the agency’s overall information technology investment management processes.”

The recommendations of the report are equally harsh.  One is that the Office reassess and, where necessary, revise its approach for implementing information systems that support automation of the patent process.  In essence, the GAO is recommending that the Office return to the drawing board to rethink the way it implements IT before it proceeds with any new initiatives.

I’ve been critical of the USPTO EFS and IT systems generally for some time.  I think this negative report is a positive for the community as it may serve as an impetus for changes.

But, then again, maybe it won’t.  Jon Dudas, in his written comments that are included in the report, concluded that “[i]n light of the progress that the USPTO has made even during the period of GAO’s assessment, we do not believe that such significant gaps exist as to warrant a pause and reassessment of our key management processes.”  Dudas did acknowledge some weaknesses and described changes that have already been made.

At it’s best, the Report will cause delays in planning and implementation of new systems at USPTO, such as a simplified EFS that can be used by everyone. At it’s worst, the Report might give appropriators pause before allocating additional funding to the Office.