On September 23, 2025, John Squires was sworn in as the 60th Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). His arrival marks an important moment for inventors, startups, and entrepreneurs in Colorado and across the country. For those seeking a Denver patent lawyer, the policy trajectory at the USPTO has never been more relevant.
If you are seeking help from an experienced patent attorney, you can book a free consultation with Denver Patent Lawyer Jeff Schell today.
Squires’ early remarks, coupled with the recent leadership of Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart, point toward a consistent and deliberate strategy: strengthening patents at the front end of the system, especially in sectors like medical diagnostics, fintech, and applied technologies that have historically faced headwinds. This continuity is excellent news for small innovators who often rely on the enforceability of their patents to attract funding, compete with established players, and scale their businesses.
As Stewart noted in her “level-setting” initiatives, the goal has been to restore confidence in the quiet title of patents—meaning inventors can own and enforce their rights without perpetual challenges that undermine value. Squires has now signaled that he intends to continue, and even expand, this effort.
Why Applied Technologies Matter for Denver Innovators
Squires’ first patent signing ceremony as Director was symbolic. The two patents issued—one in distributed ledger/crypto and another in medical diagnostics—reflect technology sectors that frequently encounter questions of patent eligibility. His choice was no accident. By focusing on applied technologies, Squires is sending a clear message that the USPTO intends to give inventors in these fields a fairer, stronger shot at securing protection.
He invoked the legacy of Samuel Morse’s 1840 telegraph patent to illustrate the point: “Applied technologies are foundational and form the backbone of America’s growth.” Just as Morse’s invention revolutionized communication, today’s blockchain and diagnostic breakthroughs have the potential to transform industries. For small Colorado innovators working in healthtech, fintech, or advanced engineering, this renewed emphasis signals that their innovations are not “mere business methods” but critical engines of growth.
Coke Morgan Stewart’s Legacy and Squires’ Continuity
For the past year, Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart quietly but effectively shifted the USPTO’s policies toward patent-owner-friendly reforms. Her initiatives included:
- Level-Setting Patent Eligibility: Clarifying guidance to examiners to ensure applied technologies were not prematurely rejected as “abstract ideas.”
- Restoring Quiet Title: Prioritizing predictability so inventors could enforce their patents with less uncertainty.
- Improved Examiner Tools: Beginning the process of equipping examiners with better resources for analyzing prior art and patentability.
Squires, in his confirmation hearing and subsequent remarks, credited Stewart with putting the agency “back on our front foot.” His pledge is not to reset but to continue this course, emphasizing strength, resilience, and expansiveness in intellectual property protection.
Why This Matters for Small Businesses and Startups
As a Denver patent lawyer, I see firsthand how critical USPTO policy is for early-stage companies. A strong patent can mean the difference between raising venture funding or being dismissed by investors. Weak or uncertain patents leave small businesses vulnerable to copycats, particularly large competitors with deep pockets.
Squires’ stated priorities align directly with these needs:
- Front-End Strength: By focusing on strong patents “up front,” the USPTO is signaling that validly issued patents should be harder to overturn later. This builds investor confidence.
- Improved Prior Art Review: Squires wants examiners to have the “best tools” when considering novel inventions. That means fewer missed references and stronger, more defensible patents.
- Balanced PTAB Review: By analyzing why inter partes reviews (IPRs) so often lead to invalidation, Squires is addressing a long-standing concern of patent owners. His approach could make the process more predictable and less threatening for small innovators.
For Colorado’s startup ecosystem—whether in biotech along the Front Range, renewable energy in Boulder, or software in Denver—this policy direction could be transformative.
Denver’s Innovation Economy and Patent Needs
Denver is increasingly recognized as a hub for innovation. From the bioscience corridor in Aurora to the fintech startups clustering downtown, local entrepreneurs are pushing into exactly the kinds of applied technologies Squires highlighted.
But these sectors also face disproportionate risks:
- Biotech and Diagnostics: In the wake of Supreme Court cases like Mayo and Myriad, many diagnostic inventions have faced uphill battles at the USPTO.
- Fintech and Blockchain: Courts have sometimes dismissed these patents as “abstract,” despite their real-world impact.
- Software and AI: Examiners often apply heightened scrutiny, making it harder for small startups to secure protection.
As a Denver patent lawyer, my role is to guide inventors through these challenges, crafting claims that align with evolving USPTO guidance. With Stewart’s groundwork and Squires’ commitments, local innovators may find the road to patent protection more navigable than it has been in a decade.
Practical Takeaways for Colorado Inventors
If you are an entrepreneur or small business owner in Denver, here’s what the USPTO’s new direction means for you:
- File Early and File Well: With the USPTO recommitting to strong patents at the outset, the quality of your initial filing matters more than ever. A well-drafted patent application can lock in strong rights.
- Leverage Applied Technology Guidance: Examiners are being instructed to give fair treatment to diagnostics, fintech, and other applied technologies. Position your invention clearly within this framework.
- Expect Stronger Prior Art Review: The USPTO is working to ensure examiners use the best tools. Be prepared with thorough prior art disclosures and strategic claim drafting.
- Prepare for PTAB Balance: Post-grant challenges may evolve. Stronger initial patents should mean less risk later, but strategic defense remains essential.
The Role of a Denver Patent Lawyer
While USPTO leadership sets the tone, the role of a skilled patent lawyer remains critical. For innovators in Denver, this means having counsel who not only understands the law but also tracks these policy shifts closely. A Denver patent lawyer serves as:
- Strategic Advisor: Translating USPTO trends into actionable filing strategies.
- Drafting Specialist: Ensuring claims are crafted to survive both examination and litigation.
- Investor Ally: Helping demonstrate to potential backers that the intellectual property is strong, enforceable, and valuable.
- Enforcement Guide: Standing ready to defend your patent rights if competitors infringe.
The USPTO may be “open for business,” as Squires declared, but navigating the system requires both legal acumen and practical foresight.
Looking Ahead
Squires concluded his first patent signing ceremony with an appeal to inventors and entrepreneurs: the USPTO is open for business “especially for the technologies of tomorrow.” For Denver innovators, that message resonates.
As Colorado continues to attract startups and investors, patent protection will remain the lifeblood of innovation. With continuity from Coke Morgan Stewart’s reforms and John Squires’ vision for a “robust, expansive, and resilient” IP system, the future looks promising for those willing to invest in protecting their ideas.
For entrepreneurs seeking a Denver patent lawyer, now is the time to act. Stronger patents are not just possible—they are being prioritized at the highest levels of the USPTO. The next Samuel Morse could just as easily be a Colorado-based healthtech founder or blockchain innovator, and the tools to protect those breakthroughs are getting sharper.
If you need patent assistance, you can book a free consultation with Schell IP today.
