USPTO to Remain Open during Government Shutdown

By Donald Zuhn –- The failure of Congress to pass appropriations legislation funding government operations on Friday resulted in a shutdown of the Federal government at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Prior to Saturday's shutdown, the most recent government shutdown had occurred on October 1-16, 2013. Interestingly, the current shutdown, which is eighth time federal employees have been furloughed as a result of a gap in budget funding, began on the one-year anniversary of President Trump's inauguration. While the shutdown involves the furlough of non-essential personnel and curtailment of agency activities and services, the U.S. Patent…Original Article