USPTO to Close Rocky Mountain Office: Impact and Updates

The Rocky Mountain Office was established under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which authorized the USPTO to open satellite offices beyond its Alexandria, Virginia, headquarters. In addition to Denver, the USPTO opened regional offices in Detroit, Michigan, Dallas, Texas, and San Jose, Texas. These offices were intended to reduce application backlogs, improve examiner retention, and strengthen connections with innovators.

With the enactment of the 2022 Unleashing American Innovators Act (UAIA), the focus of these regional offices shifted to outreach. The UAIA further mandated the creation of “community outreach offices” designed to expand intellectual property education and support in regions where it is most needed.

Rationale for Closure

In its December 2024 Report to Congress, the USPTO identified several factors driving the closure of the Denver office.

• Telework Effectiveness: USPTO examiners are successfully working nationwide through well-established telework programs, reducing reliance on physical office space.

• Community Outreach Model: The USPTO is transitioning toward community outreach offices, which allow more targeted engagement at a lower cost.

• Virtual Engagement Growth: Virtual education and outreach events have proven highly effective, with broader reach and lower overhead.

By late 2024, the Denver office employed fewer than 10 people, while operating expenses exceeded $1 million annually. Closing the office aligns with USPTO efficiency and modernization goals.

Practical Implications

For innovators and practitioners in the Rocky Mountain region, the closure is unlikely to affect day-to-day prosecution activities. Patent and trademark filings, examiner interviews, and appeals will continue through Alexandria headquarters and remote examiners. Outreach and educational programs will shift to virtual platforms and the planned network of community outreach offices.

Applicants and stakeholders are encouraged to monitor USPTO announcements regarding the establishment of new community outreach offices and upcoming events to ensure continued access to resources and support.

Client Takeaway

The closure of the Rocky Mountain office represents an operational and outreach change, not a substantive one. Prosecution processes remain unaffected. Clients should expect outreach and education to occur increasingly through virtual programming and community-based offices, while filing and examination workflows will continue without disruption.