Elijah McCoy U.S. Trademark & Patent Office Opens in Detroit

By Karen Hudson Samuels/Tell Us USA News Network

DETROIT (Tell Us USA) - Detroit celebrated opening day ceremonies Friday for the first-ever satellite location of a U. S. Patent and Trademark Office outside the nation’s capital.

Named after Elijah McCoy, an African American inventor of lubricants for steam engine locomotives, the satellite office will reduce the backlog of patents and simultaneously speed up the process for innovators to move their ideas to market.

“The faster patents are issued, the quicker entrepreneurs can create jobs” said U.S. Patent Office Director David Kappos. He added that there are over 600,000 patent applications waiting to be examined.

“Moving through these applications over the next three years in an expedited way could mean the creation 2.25 million jobs in America.” The opening of the Detroit office and appointment of patent Judges and personnel will immediately create 120 jobs for highly trained professions.

“Patents are the fuel for American innovation, said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank who participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony and was joined by a host of dignitaries including Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Michigan’s Congressional delegation and the President of the University of Michigan.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow played a key role in bringing the satellite office to Detroit and lobbied to have the office named after Elijah McCoy. "Michigan has been home to many of our nation's greatest entrepreneurs and business leaders. It is only fitting that the nation's first patent office outside of Washington is named after our state's own Elijah McCoy, one of the greatest inventors our country has ever known."

McCoy, parents were salves, was born free in Canada and traveled the Underground Railroad to Michigan. He earned his first patent in 1873 and was known for his inventions for the railroads. His quality workmanship coined the term, “the real McCoy” to distinguish it from imitations.

The 31,000 square foot Elijah McCoy satellite office is located at 300 Park Place, near Detroit’s Riverfront and will serve as a hub of creativity and protection of American innovation for idea generators in Michigan and throughout the Midwest. Additional satellite offices are planned for Texas, Colorado and California.