As the federal government shutdown officially commenced, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the permanent closure of its Denver office, the Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office, established in 2014.
While no specific date for the closure has been revealed, the USPTO cited the high costs associated with maintaining regional offices, stating that a typical office incurs over $1 million in leasing and overhead expenses. By the end of last year, employee numbers at the Denver office had dwindled to fewer than ten.
A recent analysis issued by the USPTO in a December 2024 report to Congress emphasized that physical office spaces are becoming less necessary due to the successful implementation of telework policies and an increase in virtual education, alongside plans to set up community outreach offices.
The agency noted, “The closure of this office is consistent with that assessment.”
The Denver office serviced a nine-state region encompassing Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah.
This office was established as part of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act passed in 2011, which mandated the creation of three satellite offices, in addition to one in Detroit, to enhance accessibility for inventors outside of Washington, D.C. It was also intended to improve patent examiner retention and attract talent from various regions of the country.
Despite the Denver office’s closure, the USPTO assured that no permanent closures have been declared for its other regional offices located in Detroit, Dallas, San Jose, California, and Alexandria, Virginia.
In response to the announcement, Russ Slifer, who was the director of the Rocky Mountain office at its inception, criticized the USPTO’s justification of the office’s closure, labeling it as misleading. He stated, “There are far more employees with a duty station of Denver, including judges and patent examiners.”
He voiced concerns about forcing Denver-based employees to relocate to Washington, D.C., or face job loss, expressing skepticism about the motivation behind the closure, especially if it was tied to political influence.
When contacted shortly after the announcement, Slifer noted he was unaware of the closure and stated, “I believe there is financial sense for reducing physical office space or seeking a less expensive alternative, such as sharing space in another federal space. Closing the office without announcing a succession plan is unfortunate. Hopefully, the community outreach will continue in some way.”
After opening the office in 2014, Slifer advanced to a higher position within the agency the following year.
Regional director Molly Kocialski, who assumed her role in 2016, expressed her commitment to community engagement, actively participating in events to connect with lawyers, students, and local groups. However, she unexpectedly stepped down in early September, marking a significant transition for the office.
In prior conversations, Kocialski shared that she cherished her role in outreach but noted shifts in expectations that limited efforts to cover only basic intellectual property education. With her departure, Kocialski remarked that the number of employees and patent examiners had increased to 354 in the Rocky Mountain region, with around 230 based in Colorado.
Most employees worked remotely rather than in the Denver office located in the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building, which raised concerns about the potential loss of talent if staff were compelled to relocate to D.C.
Senator Michael Bennet was instrumental in establishing the Rocky Mountain office in Denver in 2011, citing the region’s growing reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship as key factors in its selection. He emphasized the importance of the office to local businesses, leaders, and communities, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that Colorado’s innovators continue to receive necessary federal resources to foster technological advancements.
While the federal government shut down on Wednesday, the USPTO announced that it would continue operating, supported by reserves from the previous year’s fee collections. The self-sustaining agency generates billions annually through patent and trademark fees and projected a revenue of $5 billion for fiscal year 2026, exceeding the previous year’s estimates by $441 million.
Despite claims of excessive overhead costs associated with the Denver office, opinions expressed by local legal professionals like Justin Krieger, a managing partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, argued that the expense was minimal compared to the broader budget of the USPTO. Krieger highlighted the importance of the Denver office as a valuable resource for local law students and the patent community.
“On the last day of class, I bring the students, or at least I did, to the regional office on a field trip,” Krieger explained. “They get to meet the regional director, some PTAB judges, and have the opportunity to ask questions. It’s just a tremendously great resource for local students to gain insights they wouldn’t otherwise have without a regional office.”
The future remains uncertain for patent examiners and judges in the Rocky Mountain region regarding potential relocations to Washington, D.C., which could pose challenges for the patent community. The establishment of regional offices had previously allowed for easier access and direct engagement without requiring extensive travel to the capital.
Dan Smith, president and advocacy committee chair of the National Association of Patent Practitioners and a patent agent based in Boulder, described the impending closure as a significant loss to the community. Smith stated that the NAPP is exploring options to collaborate in retaining the Rocky Mountain Regional office and is reviewing the America Invents Act to assess the legal necessity of the office’s existence.
The closure of the Denver office marks a critical turning point for the region’s patent community, with stakeholders evaluating the implications of diminished access to vital resources as they strategize for the future.
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