New patent office opens in Detroit

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Calling all inventors, geeks, and entrepreneurs!  The new patent office opened today at Riverplace and Atwater in Detroit.

A formal ceremony preceded the tour of the new office that is being called the Elijah J. McCoy Regional Patent Office. 

Detroit is only one of four cities across the country to have a satellite office.  The office will function as a hub for the Midwest, the federal government wanted to open satellite offices in every U.S. time zones. 

The other offices are in Denver, Dallas, and Silicon Valley.

The patent office is supposed to make it easier for inventors and entrepreneurs to jump start ideas and businesses and help make Detroit a place to create jobs and compete globally. 

Mayor Dave Bing says it shows the world that Detroit is open for business.

The office will employ more than 120 people in its first year and is named for Elijah McCoy of Michigan, who was the son of former slaves.

McCoy owned more than 50-patents during his life and his inventions revolutionized the way heavy machinery operates, including locomotives.

In fact, the saying “Is it the real McCoy?” refers to his work because machines were not considered worthy unless they had McCoy parts.