Office of Patent Quality Assurance

The Office of Patent Quality Assurance (OPQA) is a department within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of patent examination. They review and analyze patent applications and decisions to verify that patent examiners correctly apply legal and technical standards. This helps maintain the integrity of the patent process, ensuring that only deserving inventions receive patents while preventing errors or unfair grants. Essentially, OPQA works behind the scenes to improve the accuracy and reliability of patent grants, supporting innovation and protecting intellectual property rights.