USPTO IS FUNDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER -- On November 17, 2011, the U.S. Congress passed an appropriations bill, containing full fiscal year 2012 funding for the USPTO.  IPO hailed passage as the solution to the USPTO’s funding problems through September 30, 2012, which is when the government’s fiscal year ends.  The bill allows the USPTO to spend at least $2.7 billion of fee collections in 2012, up from about $2.1 billion in 2001.  (Latest unofficial estimates are that 2012 fee collections will be somewhat less than $2.7 billion.  The agency can spend only what it collects.)  Click here for more information on USPTO funding or here to view IPO’s chart showing the history of fees withheld from the USPTO.