Posts Tagged: "Drew Hirshfeld"

Practical Tips for Increasing Patent Allowance Rates (Replay)

If you were unable to join us in person at IPWatchdog Studios for Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management Masters™ 2023, a part of the IPWatchdog Masters™ series, register now to watch the broadcast of the Practical Tips for Increasing Patent Allowance Rates panel (about 12:45 PM ET). This panel will be preceded by Gene Quinn‘s conversation with James Hallenbeck, President & CEO of Black Hills IP, about…

‘In Good Hands’: As Hirshfeld Reflects on His Long Career, Vidal Preps for USPTO’s Future

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director Kathi Vidal and outgoing Acting Deputy Director Drew Hirshfeld joined IPWatchdog’s CEO and Founder Gene Quinn today to discuss Hirshfeld’s nearly 30-year career with the Office, as well as Vidal’s philosophy as she embarks on her journey as the new Director. Vidal emphasized the importance of dialogue in shaping USPTO practices and processes but said she also will not wait around indefinitely on input over doing “what’s right for the country.” She said: “We will get feedback [but] that’s not going to stop us from acting.” Hirshfeld, who spoke with Quinn on his last day in office, joined the USPTO in 1994.

Webinar: A Conversation with the Director – Presented by IPWatchdog

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Deputy Director, Drew Hirshfeld, will step down from a nearly 30-year career with the Office on June 21, 2022. That very same day, Drew Hirshfeld will join Gene Quinn, President & CEO of IPWatchdog, Inc., for a conversation to take a look back at…

Hirshfeld Announces Timeline for Departure from USPTO

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Deputy Director Drew Hirshfeld will step down from a nearly 30-year career with the Office on June 21, the USPTO announced today. Hirshfeld became Commissioner for Patents with the USPTO in 2015. He was appointed to a second five-year term in that role in July 2020. Before that, he served as Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, and for two years as the USPTO Chief of Staff for David Kappos. He also served as a Supervisory Patent Examiner, as well as a Group Director of Technology Center 2100, overseeing Computer Networking and Database workgroups. Hirshfeld first joined the agency in 1994 as a patent examiner.

Arthrex II: The USPTO Has a Director Again, But Questions About Validity of USPTO Operations Under Hirshfeld Persist

In late March, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard oral arguments in Arthrex, Inc. v. Smith & Nephew, Inc. (Arthrex II) to determine whether the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had effectively addressed the constitutional violation under the Appointments Clause that was identified in previous rulings from the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court (Arthrex I). While the impact of the Federal Circuit’s ruling will likely be cabined by the recent Senate confirmation of Kathi Vidal to serve as USPTO Director, the decision could call into question the validity of at least the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) operations during the tenure of Drew Hirshfeld as performing the duties and functions of the USPTO Director up to Vidal’s confirmation.