Comments on: John Doll Announces Retirement from USPTO

By: Gene Quinn

Gene Quinn — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:11:04 +0000

Anonymous too-

I am not sure what you are trying to say, and if you can cease being cryptic for a moment and say what you mean that would be appreciated.

Thanks also for predicting the future, and being so certain I will criticize Bob Stoll. That statement makes it clear to me that you do not read IPWatchdog.com, or you do not understand what you are reading when you visit IPWatchdog.com. I criticize those who deserve to be criticized, and praise those who deserve to be praised. I have said exclusively positive things about Nick Godici, Steve Kunin and Peggy Focarino. I have largely been very supportive and positive of David Kappos, only expressing hopes that he understands what is important to those who are not in the tech sector. I have criticized Rogan, Dudas and Doll. Rogan and Dudas didn’t understand patents and were in over their heads. Doll just made exceptionally bad choices that everyone knows were harmful to the patent system.

If you think Doll shouldn’t have to put up with “yahoos” and you are clumping me into that group, that tells me all I need to know about you, and I can see why you want to remain anonymous. If I were going to prove my ignorance I would rather be anonymous too.

-Gene

By: Anonymous too

Anonymous too — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:53:42 +0000

Gene writes, “I have been saying for months that the logical thing would be for John Doll to retire…”

That is certainly true from John’s point of view. Over the years he has earned a reasonably good pension that he can collect without having to put up with you yahoos. The same can be said for Nick, Steve Kunin, Esther Kepplinger, Nancy Linck, and a host of other high and mid-level administrators who have left the PTO in the past few years.

Bob Stoll is a good man with a lot of experience. Before you start criticizing him (as I am sure you will in the months to come), stop and consider how soon Bob will be eligible to retire.

By: Paul F. Morgan

Paul F. Morgan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:33:52 +0000

In partial fairness to John Doll in recent years, he seems to have been effectively put under the control of PTO General Counsel Toupin in recent years. As understood, that PTO General Counsel postion was a new position created and staffed by Director Dudas with someone [else] with no prior PTO or private practice patent experience at all, yet very heavily involved in, if not instigating, the highly objected-to draconian and partially illegal PTO rules package, and even controlling the PTO Solicitor, with no observed concern or interest in the needs or views of practitioners, rather, in my opinion, a prosecutorial attitude. Now there is someone you should be talking about.

By: BRS

BRS — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:36:17 +0000

Congratulations to Bob and Best Wishes to John. Also, thanks to Mr. Kappos and, I hope speaking for all, we hope that we will have an open dialogue to enhance what is best about our system and get rid of that which has not worked.
Now that the top two patent slots are filled, has anyone heard anything about reopening negotiations about the Patent Examiner’s contract? Perhaps it is time to take on the tough job of unlinking bonuses from production. After all, if someone told me that it would be next to impossible to fire me and that if I put out X + 30% of work, I would get extra money, I’d learn to touch type!. It is a great deal. Hit the computer keyboard and the money drawer opens. As far as I know, bonuses are still not linked to any objective measure of quality. Would anyone like to take a stab at defining what they they think makes a quality patent?
Finally, regargless of what Mr. Kappos et al. would like to do, Mr. Locke seems to be keeping a pretty close eye on the PTO. So, we can only hope that Locke permits the Office to get its feet on the ground before issuing political objectives.

By: Examiner

Examiner — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:07:37 +0000

I worked for Bob when he was a supervisor (the only time he was an SPE). Hard-working, straightforward, affable, very reasonable, absolute gentleman and attentive to the legal aspects of examining. It was a pleasure working for this guy. He is genuine and not a back-stabber. This is going to be a huge change at the Comm.’s level–extremely huge. This guy actually cares without pretending.

By: patent leather

patent leather — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Awesome!! Best news I’ve heard all summer.

There is one positive thing I can think of coming out of Doll’s reign as Commissioner: That is, at least the USPTO has learned that they just can’t do anything they want and that they WILL be challenged on illegal rules. I also have a feeling they will actually read the comments to a proposed rule next time.

I could go on and on about the stupidity of those rules, how they wouldn’t have had any real effect on the backlog, and the stubborness of the USPTO to just ignore the very intelligent comments from the patent bar. But its all been said before.

Congratulations on your retirement Mr. Doll and thanks for your service. (Hey, may as well be professional at this point).