New associate, J. Paul Norton, is attending Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP) in Washington D.C. this week. STEPP is a program designed to further the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) mission of delivering intellectual property information and education to external stakeholders.  The program places focus on improving the customer experience throughout the patent process. STEPP was developed to increase transparency with respect to how an application is examined at the USPTO.