San Jose Selected As Site Of New Patent Office

SAN JOSE (CBS 5) -- It's a major coup for San Jose.

The city has been awarded one of three new U.S. Patent and Trademark offices.

Backers of the idea say that a quarter of all patents filed in the United States originate in Silicon Valley. Right now there is only one U.S. office located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren told CBS 5 that having local patent examiners should help clear a backlog that can stretch out for up to three years.

KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:

Besides San Jose, the two other metropolitan areas getting Patent/Trademark offices are Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth.

The offices will be open by 2014

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