E-gov fuels USPTO spending rise

Input's report on Patent and Trademark Office IT spending

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's information technology spending will reach $450 million in five years, according to a study released today by Input, a Chantilly, Va.-based market intelligence firm.

Spending on IT products and services will increase at a compound annual rate of 9 percent from $300 million in fiscal 2003 to $450 million in fiscal 2008, the study said.

E-government is a major force behind the increase, said Erik TerHaar, Input's manager of federal market development services. "USPTO is a knowledgeable e-government customer, with proven success in Section 508 compliance, citizen-centric Web sites and telework programs," he said in a statement.

The study said the link between the agency's mission and economic security provides for a secure IT budget. It also said IT funds that support the mission have strong support from appropriators.