Posts Tagged: "Director of the UPSTO"

The Updated PTAB Trial Practice Guide – Not Quite There Yet

While the changes to the Trial Practice Guide begin to move the rules in the right direction, more is needed before post-grant proceedings will be accepted as neutral to all parties. The PTAB should endeavor to adopt the time-honored burdens, presumptions and procedures used in the district courts for trying patent cases whenever reasonably possible. Petitioners should be required to prove that the art upon which they rely is not cumulative to that previously before the USPTO, a patent owner’s Preliminary Response presenting evidence raising genuine issues of material fact should be treated as it would be if presented in opposition to a summary judgment motion brought in the courts, and the presiding panel should determine witness credibility by hearing testimony and cross examination live.

Russell Slifer

August 26, 2018

The Message USPTO Director Iancu Should Deliver to the Office

Envisioning what Director Iancu should say to his Patent Office team on his first day in office… People have been asking me about my new job: Are we going to be advocates for a “strong” patent system or a “weak” one? Are we in favor of “good” patents and opposed to “bad” ones? I answer that those questions have no place in this Office. Our ideal is to issue every valid patent applied for – and not a single invalid one. Are we going to make some mistakes along the way? Of course we will. Every government agency does – and their work isn’t nearly as complex as ours!

Aaric Eisenstein

February 19, 2018

What should USPTO Director Andrei Iancu do first?

There are no shortage of opinions about what Director Iancu should do now that he is at the helm of America’s innovation agency. To contribute to the advice Director Iancu is no doubt receiving from many corners already, I’ve asked a panel of industry experts to weigh and give their advice about what should be on top of the Iancu agenda.

Gene Quinn

February 11, 2018

Andrei Iancu Begins Role as New Director of USPTO

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that Andrei Iancu began his first official day as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. Mr. Iancu, who was nominated by President Trump last August, was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday. In his new role, Mr. Iancu will provide leadership and oversight to one of the largest intellectual property offices in the world, with over 12,000 employees and an annual budget of over $3 billion. Mr. Iancu will also serve as the principal advisor to the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on domestic and international intellectual property policy matters.

Press Releases

February 9, 2018

Andrei Iancu confirmed by Senate as Director of the USPTO

Andrei Iancu was confirmed by the United States Senate to become Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Iancu vote, as expected, resulted in a unanimous confirmation. The final vote in the Senate in favor of Iancu’s nomination was 94 to 0.

Gene Quinn

February 5, 2018

Director Andrei Iancu’s Act One

Andrei Iancu is leaving an extremely lucrative position as Managing Partner at Irell to make his mark upon the patent system as Director for a salary that many in his wage bracket would consider a stipend. But his chance for significant policy impact is limited by time and the need to immediately deliver valid and timely patents on day one. Hopefully, Director Iancu is already planning some of his initiatives to get a jump start on his legacy.

Robert Stoll

November 26, 2017