Due to the large number of patents awarded to Triangle residents, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has asked N.C. State University if it wants to open a satellite office on Centennial Campus. The office, to be called a Partnership Library, would be the fourth in the country, joining offices in Silicon Valley, Detroit and Houston. "Research Triangle is one of the fastest-growing points in our country and has a significant number of filings of patents," said Michael Hydorn, manager of partnership libraries for the federal government. N.C. State is working up a proposal and should hear from the Patent Office by early 2001. It would cost the university about $170,000 in start-up costs and $30,000 a year to run the office.
The Triangle ranked 25th of 318 metro areas last year in the number of patents granted, up from 50th 10 years ago. NCSU already has a Patent and Trademark Depository Library at its main library, where copies of every patent are on file. A partnership library would offer the same services available at the Patent Office in Washington, including a secure video-conferencing environment so patent lawyers could meet with Patent Office examiners to discuss applications and argue for acceptance without having to travel to Washington; a secure and fast connection to the same databases that patent examiners have; and fully interactive continuing education lectures for lawyers and paralegals via the video conferencing connection. The lecture series would be specific to patent and trademark law, and run once or twice every week.