USPTO

It started with a cupcake – then expanded to included Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Zingers, and Ho Hos. On this day in 1919, William Ward, of Buffalo, New York, registered the trademark for Hostess Brands (now The J.M. Smucker Co.). The original trademark specimen he submitted with his application included a tag with text “Hostess, made by W.B. Ward.” At the time, the company was known as Continental Baking and operated in Kansas City, according to Hostess. The chocolate cupcake was the company’s first treat expansion from bread, although the cream filling and icing squiggle didn’t come until 1950. The cream was added because it had been popularized by Twinkies and squiggle icing on top helped distinguish from other cupcakes – it's even a registered trademark: The Original Squiggle. Twinkies sponge cakes came in 1930. The original version had a banana-cream filling, but the vanilla flavor became the most popular. Other treats that followed are include Suzy Q’s, Ding Dongs, Zingers, and Ho Hos.

On this National Photography Day, we wanted to share some of our favorite photos of our campus in Alexandria, Va. From the spring bloom of cherry blossoms to the changing of the leaves in the fall, the USPTO campus offers plenty of picture-perfect moments. Interested in calling our campus your career home? Apply to join America’s Innovation Agency: https://bit.ly/3C0jvQM

As of late July 2025, all utility examiners are using an AI-assisted tool in conducting searches but can choose whether to apply the results to their work. The new Similarity Search tool (SimSearch) enables examiners to more effectively locate documents similar to the application they are searching. The tool uses the text of the application being searched to generate the AI search query and provide ranked search results. SimSearch is intended to augment – not replace – other search tools and is available to examiners through the agency’s internal Patents End-to-End (PE2E) Search tool, a modern web-based cloud platform. Read more: https://bit.ly/45xN9vD

Inventors in the United States can obtain patent protection in more than 150 countries from a single patent application when filing through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure. Applications begin at the local receiving office – in the United States, that’s the USPTO. The applications are routed through an international examination process through the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO based in Switzerland. Last year, the United States recorded the second-most PCT filings with 54,087 applications, following only China with 70,160 applications. Swipe to learn the process of PCT filings. Want to learn more? 🗓️ Aug. 21 🕑 2 p.m. 💻 Register: http://bit.ly/45nbR3j

A rose by any other patent number ... would be a different rose! 🌹 #OTD in 1931, landscape gardener Henry F. Bosenberg received U.S. plant patent No. 1 for a climbing rose with ever-blooming properties that he called “The New Dawn.” When grown in his home of New Brunswick, New Jersey, this plant “provides a succession of blossoms… from about the end of May to the middle of November, or until stopped by frost.”     The U.S. Patent Office began granting plant patents  as a result of the Plant Patent Act of 1930. 

The answer? False! You don’t have to use the resume builder — it's just one option! You can either: 1️⃣ Use the USAJOBS resume builder to craft your resume, or 2️⃣ Upload your own resume in the required documents section. Whichever option you choose, make sure your resume is tailored to the role and includes details such as contact information, job titles, and key accomplishments. If you’re interested in a career at the USPTO and need some pointers on the hiring process, check out our tips and tricks: https://bit.ly/4aMnIZ9

Do you think you have a patentable idea, great new brand, original art or software, or a money-making secret? Join our experts for a free webinar to help you identify and protect your intellectual property. 🗓️ Aug. 19 🕔 8 p.m. ET 💻 Register: https://bit.ly/4lpjhrh

The USPTO’s Patent Public Search tool is a web‑based platform that can help you access prior art. Want to know how it works? Here are 3 tips to get you started: 1. Start with Basic Search if you’re new or want a simple search. Plug keywords, patent numbers, or published application numbers into the Quick Lookup query box. 2. Try Advanced Search when you need precision. Use field codes, Boolean operators, and proximity searches to narrow results and target specific databases. 3. Adjust how you view results. Preview the front page or open the full PDF or HTML record and choose the view that suits your needs. Check out our tutorial videos and quick‑reference guides:  http://bit.ly/4fv9fUc

Are you an independent inventor, entrepreneur, or small business owner? Save the date and register today for our Invention-Con 2025: Empowering American Ingenuity and Innovation. We’ve put together an exciting program focused on growing your IP knowledge, inventing with impact and purpose, aligning with investor goals, and developing strategies to take your idea to market! 🗓️ Sept. 9 and 10 🕐 1 p.m. 💻 Register: https://lnkd.in/ewa5JhkA

#Tip: Our DOCX page of the USPTO website includes frequently asked questions, a quick reference guide, and a video overview of filing DOCX documents in Patent Center. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e8ShGbEH