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On the upside - competitive pay and benefits with industry. Probably a tough sell for many. On the downside - restrict employment opportunities for X years aft
by alex_anglin 8y ago
On the upside - competitive pay and benefits with industry. Probably a tough sell for many.
On the downside - restrict employment opportunities for X years after being in a specific position.
Clearly both have issues, but regulatory capture is a problem worth solving.
- patentatt 8y agoPatent examiners top out at like $140’s pretty much. Nobody that’s GS scale makes over $160. Starting salary at big law firms is $180 + bonus. So you have a fair pint there. Also, as far as time bars, the PTO does something like this. Former examiners are not allowed to apply for a patent for a term after they leave. Doesn’t really solve the problem, but it’s something.
- pwg 8y agoThe USPTO also bars former examiner's from working as an attorney on cases in the area in which they previously examined for two years after they leave the USPTO. I do not know how carefully this rule is enforced.
- patentatt 8y agoGood point, I think it’s really on the honor system with the threat of invalidating a patent in some later litigation.