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February 26, 2005

a patent examiner becomes an artist

It is easy for patent attorneys and inventors to approach the U.S. Patent Trademark Office as if preparing for war.  Despite the PTO’s announcements to the contrary, the process is complex, time consuming and expensive.  One of the more unfortunate consequences of such a “warring” relationship is that oftentimes the Examiner is lumped into the category of “one of the bad guys” or is made to be the focal point of the frustration and anger of the attorney or the inventor.

While it is easy to slip into this mindset, we on the “patent acquisition” side of the aisle have to remember that patent examiners are human beings and not simply cogs in the unfeeling “wheels of government”.  Examiners are human and should be treated with the respect and courtesy given any other professional.

In this spirit, I would like to introduce you to Monika Sheinberg, artist-in-residence with the Masterworks Foundation in Bermuda.  Ms. Sheinberg is a former patent examiner in the biotechnological sciences group at the PTO and her work is currently on exhibit in Bermuda.

It’s like Shrek said, everyone has layers.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 05:55 PM.
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