Who The Hell Is Actually In Charge Of The US Patent And Trademark Office?
from the perhaps-no-one dept
I recognize that many (especially regular Techdirt readers) will assume from the title above that the question is a rhetorical one in response to the latest craziness around a stupid trademark or awful patent. But, no, we mean that literally. You see, right before the Trump inauguration, it was widely reported that Michelle Lee would stay on as the Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office. That was undeniably good news. For all the complaints we have about the USPTO, Lee has done a fairly amazing job running that office, and seems to be one of the first Patent Office directors who actually understands how patents can do serious harm to innovation. Keeping her on would be a really good sign. After seeing the stories claiming that she was staying, we'd mostly moved on. However, Politico reporter Nancy Scola sent me down something of a rabbit hole after tweeting that it's basically impossible to know who's in charge of the Patent Office right now.
The USPTO's site still says it's Lee:
That seems like that should be that. However, there are conspiracy theories afoot -- mainly being discussed by Gene Quinn over at IP Watchdog. Gene and I disagree about basically everything as it relates to patents, and he's got a history of insulting me, so I have every reason to basically ignore him. But, on this, he may have a point. And the questions about whether or not Lee is actually in charge are also being asked by a much more respectable patent website, Patently-O.
The issue started when Quinn noticed that, despite the claims that Lee was staying on, the Commerce Department (which the USPTO is a part of) leadership page says the role is "vacant." Here's the latest screenshot I took:
As for the PTO's own website, Quinn rightly points out that its leadership page still lists out a number of other individuals who have announced resignations and are no longer there, but whose profiles are still on the website. The Commerce Department seems to be refusing to comment to anyone who asks (I've sent in my own question) and it's quite unclear if Michelle Lee really is the director.
If you look through the fairly long list of articles by Quinn on the subject, it's quite clear that he (as someone who is not a fan of Lee) is hoping that she's been pushed out, and is trying to drum up controversy over the possibility that she might remain. But the lack of any clarity from anyone... is bizarre. Quinn's most recent post on the subject notes that while no one seems willing to say who's running things, Lee "continues to be seen" in the building. That would certainly support the theory that she's staying. But... she's also cancelled a bunch of speaking engagements, and no one at the USPTO or Commerce Dept. seems willing to say anything. Also, in an earlier report, Quinn noted that he'd been told, unofficially, that Drew Hirshfeld is "Acting Director," implying Lee had left. But the whole thing seems to be... unclear:
Who is running the United States Patent and Trademark Office? That straightforward question shouldn’t be imponderable, but it seems that the Trump Administration has chosen to sequester the Director as if he or she has gone into the witness protection program. Indeed, we seem no closer to an answer to who is running the USPTO today than we were 18 days ago. Although sources tell me that Michelle Lee continues to be seen on the 10th floor of the Madison Building, which is where the Director’s Office is located.
As we begin the third week of the Trump Administration I cannot tell you with any definitive certainty who is Director, or if there is an Acting Director, or if the Commissioner for Patents is merely carrying out the responsibilities of Director without being named Acting Director, which has been the case at least once in the past.
Yes, the Trump transition has been a bit of a mess, but this seems particularly bizarre. There's a decent chance that the problem is just that something is afoot and it just hasn't been discussed publicly yet, so the Commerce Dept. and PTO are staying silent. But, as Quinn notes, there are actual, real implications of not having anyone as PTO director:
Indeed, there are many things that the law leaves to the discretion of the Director of the USPTO. While some of those decisions have been delegated out to subordinate officials within the Office, some do still remain only with the Director. For example, if you are a patent owner who believes you are being harassed by repeated post grant challenges the Director alone has the authority to provide a protective remedy. Without knowing who is Director how can patent owners appropriately seek to obtain the assistance of the Director?
Another thing that will soon become problematic is with respect to lawsuits involving the USPTO. Who should be the named party? Generally, the Director or Acting Director of the agency is named as the party on behalf of the agency. While it seems a small point, properly identifying the party is no minor matter in federal court. Are patent applicants supposed to style their appeals to the Federal Circuit as Applicant v. John or Jane Doe, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office?
In his most recent post, Quinn further wonders if those of us who tend to think certain patents shouldn't have been issued could even use this as a way to claim patents issued recently are invalid:
Sources tell me that the USPTO was prepared last week to issue patents with the signature of Drew Hirshfeld, who is the Commissioner of Patents and seems to be currently in the position of Acting Director. At the last minute, however, a decision was made to reverted back to Michelle Lee’s signature. This creates several significant problems.
First, if Lee is not currently the Director patents that are being issued with her signature are being issued in violation of §153. If we know anything about patent litigators it is that they raise every challenge possible, and it is only a matter of time before the provenance of patents issued during these first weeks and months of the Trump Administration are challenged as being invalid.
These are not unsolvable issues, once things are clarified, but it still... very, very strange. I doubt that challenging the validity of the patents would have much of a chance, but it is interesting. And while I desperately hope that Lee remains, and Quinn desperately hopes that she is forced out, I think (for once!) Quinn and I agree: whatever is happening, and whoever is in charge, should be disclosed publicly.
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Filed Under: commerce department, gene quinn, michelle lee, patents, trump administration, uspto
Reader Comments
The First Word
“Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
That's interesting. The italics on the word "everybody" were not in my original post. Somebody (presumably with admin privileges at Techdirt) changed it.(I don't make those kind of generalizations.)
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Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
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Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
As someone very unhappy with much of the Trump agenda, I wish people like you would stop doing this.
There are many, many legitimate complaints that can be made about Trump's administration.
Make those complaints.
Don't make up stupid complaints completely unsupported by evidence. Everybody on the left has been doing this, and they are making themselves look ridiculous.
Worse, by going ballistic over trivial or imaginary things, they are discrediting all opposition to Trump.
More than ever, we need now a cool-headed, rational, reasonable opposition that makes valid points against Trump's follies.
So...stop doing that.
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Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
I don't know what else there is to say that can change people's minds on this debacle.
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So...stop doing that
I don't like Trump either -- but it's fantastic non-stop entertainment to watch leftist heads exploding at everything Trump says or does !
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Re: So...stop doing that
It's OldMugwump's head exploding - and yours - at the lack of unspoiled unconditional love for Trump. It's actually kind of funny how you don't see that.
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Re: So...stop doing that
There are more important things at stake than entertainment.
These are our fellow citizens - on both left and right.
We all live in the same country and have to get along together. The alternative is civil war. If this tribalist partisanship keeps on it's present course, that's where we are going to end up.
Civil war wasn't fun in 1861, and it's not fun in Syria in 2017.
I don't want to go there.
So - please. Stop giggling at your opponent's "heads exploding" metaphorically, lest real heads belonging to real mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, boys and girls - start exploding.
Because that will happen if we don't all knock it off.
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Re: Re: So...stop doing that
Agreed. Yes, there's been some mad hysteria (I howled with laughter at the Red Scare nonsense being deployed by the liberals) about the Trump administration but this is important; who is driving the USTPO truck? It seems to be on cruise control at the moment. That's not good. Mike's post is not hysterical, it's reasonable. I've been in positions where there was a bottleneck on executive administration for particular jobs I needed doing. There was no plan for what would happen if that person wasn't there so jobs were held up till they got back and got around to dealing with it. In this case, the bottleneck is at Lee's desk. So... who is going to answer Quinn's question, and ultimately Mike's?
There is a wolf in the pasture, OldMugwump. That is why the sheep are running.
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Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
Thank you, Wendy, for once again showing that civil discourse is possible between people of differing viewpoints.
Actually I agree with everything you say here - Mike's post is entirely reasonable, and what is going on with the USPTO (and many other things) is indeed worrying.
My original comment was directed at the AC who snarked that the answer is "Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet." (Certainly not at Mike, for whom I have great respect.)
My position is pretty clear from my other comments in this thread. I'm no fan or supporter of Mr. Trump.
It pains me greatly to find myself in the position of defending him against unreasonable accusations. There are plenty of reasonable accusations to attack him with - not least his positions on IP law, civil forfeiture, trade, immigration, civil rights, and authoritarianism in general.
Allowing our "collective heads to explode" is not a strategy. And we need strategy.
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Re: So...stop doing that
Just about everything says or does is head exploding stupid.
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Re: Re: So...stop doing that
And on that note...
Trump Quips He’d ‘Destroy’ Texas Lawmaker Who Irked Sheriff (by proposing that civil asset forfeiture require a conviction)
Oh, those gosh-darned lib'rul lefties for disagreeing with Trump.
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Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
I'm all for fighting Mr. Trump when he proposes or advocate bad policies - as in this case.
But it is the policy that must be fought, not the man.
Not until it's time for another election.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
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Re: Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
Seriously....? The Trump apologists are trying to declare "fake news" EVEN WHEN the news report contains video of Trump actually saying the "head exploding stupid" thing?
Next you'll equate criticizing Trump with trying to start a civil war.
Oh, wait. You're already doing that.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
I haven't seen the video. These days I trust nothing in the media unless I see it myself.
This has become an unfriendly place for moderates. That is sad.
...Loons to the left of me, monsters to the right. Stuck in the middle with you...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
Alternative terrorists ------ lol
It is entirely possible that the so called media is much less full of bullshit than whitehouse press releases.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
The Trump "I trust nothing in the media unless I see it myself" excuse - about a widely reported news story reported by a traditional accredited neutral news service - with video of Trump himself saying it - and making it clear even if you don't watch the video that everyone saw him say it - is just such a case.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...stop doing that
Actually, Roger, my "civil war" comment was in reply to the AC who enjoys watching "leftist heads exploding" (that post is now flagged, rightly so).
So if I was accusing anybody of trying to start a civil war, I was accusing Trump's defenders.
Please read the thread with a bit more care before making accusations.
Of course, it takes two to tango, so in that sense my comment does apply to both sides.
And, yes, I've got other things going on in my life beside politics and don't watch every news video. I spend way too much time posting here as it is.
Just in this thread you've talked about my "head exploding", accused me of demanding "unspoiled unconditional love for Trump", of equating "criticizing Trump with trying to start a civil war", and of spouting "imbecilic Trump wingnuttery".
Yet, also in this thread, I made clear I oppose Trump, oppose civil forfeiture, and fear "discrediting all opposition to Trump".
Elsewhere on TD (and you and I have both been here for a while) I've said I oppose Trump on immigration, trade, IP policy, and more, and that I prefered Hillary Clinton (who I despise) to Trump.
And I haven't called you any names, or insulted you.
So it seems to me that it's you who are demanding unspoiled unconditional hate for Trump, and smearing and insulting those who take an even slightly less extreme position. [See, I do know how to use markdown.]
We are all going to have to live together in this country under President Trump (ugh; pains me to say that title) for the next four, and maybe eight, years. Half the electorate voted for him (not including me).
If everyone who expresses anything other than unspoiled unconditional hate for the POTUS is an "imbecilic wingnut" then so are fully half of your fellow citizens.
I think it would be better for all of us if passions cooled a bit and we stopped calling each other names. Your opponents may indeed be wrong, but that does not make them monsters.
With that, I'll move on to other threads and topics. Have a good day, Roger.
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Re: So...stop doing that
Tax cuts? Yeah, not so much if you aren't a multi-millionaire. Seems you haven't figured that out yet.
Immigration: Yeah, not so much if you are looking to stop terrorist. Seems you haven't figured that out yet.
Education: Two Words: Nancy DeVos. Even a Trump supporter should figure that one out.
Health care: Only if you can afford it can you receive life saving care. Seems you haven't figured that out yet.
Jobs: Yeah, I just saw a bunch of co-workers get pink slips. No separation package, nothing. Seems you haven't figured that out yet.
Economy: Nice if you have money in the market. Not so nice if you work for a living or own retirement stocks in a company the President tweets "CANCEL ORDER!". Seems you haven't figured that out yet.
Foreign policy: Whatever Putin says. Seems you haven't figured that out yet.
Seems you have a lot of figuring out to do, so I'll let you go.
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Re: Re: So...stop doing that
I was replying to the other AC who said "it's fantastic non-stop entertainment to watch leftist heads exploding at everything Trump says or does !"
Yes, there is entertainment value in watching people wildly overreact.
I am not, and never have been, a Trump supporter. I voted for somebody else.
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Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
Interesting, you've managed to do exactly what you're complaining about in your very next sentence (emphasis in original changed to bold instead of italics as markdown has made the whole quote italics!):
Supporting evidence for "everybody" on the left?
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Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
(I don't make those kind of generalizations.)
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
That's interesting. The italics on the word "everybody" were not in my original post. Somebody (presumably with admin privileges at Techdirt) changed it.
No one here changed it. It's possible you put stars around it, and via markdown it became italicized. But I can assure you that no one here changed the comment.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
If it wasn't someone at TD, then it was someone not at TD, and you should probably look into changing admin passwords (or some such).
Because it wasn't me. I know about markdown (and I didn't click the box that time), and I didn't put *stars* around it either.
Somebody, somewhere, is playing sneaky games.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
Your attempt to pivot away from being called a hypocrite by complaining about a made up person editing in italics is straight outta the Trump hand book. Get outta here with your obvious BS.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
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Re: Re: Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet.
Apparently the comment:
"Guess the highest bidder hasn't stepped forth yet"
Is spot on
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I imagine the trend will continue
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Re: I imagine the trend will continue
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Re: I imagine the trend will continue
I understand that RightsCorp's CEO is looking for a job, or should be. Then again, is it Trump's policy to only hire winners?
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Does It Matter?
Every time I hear a story involving the US Patent And Trademark Office, I wonder "Is ANYONE running this thing?"
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Line em up
USPTO Dir#1: Pft! You can't.
Drumpf: You're fired! Next.
Drumpf: I want to Trademark "Keep America Great!"
USPTO Dir#2: Are you that stupid?
Drumpf: You're fired! Next.
Drumpf: I want to Trademark "Keep America Great!"
USPTO Dir#3: Are you going to fire me?
Drumpf: You're fired! Next.
Drumpf: I want to Trademark "Keep America Great!"
USPTO Trumplethinskin Dir: Ok
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170124/23562736558/trump-campaign-wants-to-trademark-keep-amer ica-great.shtml
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Re: Line em up
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Re: Line em up
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Re: Line em up
Trump: "I want to trademark 'Keep America Great!'"
USPTO: "uhhhh...There is clear prior use..."
Trump: "No there is not. I was the first to ever use it."
USPTO: "Please don't vaporize me."
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Could it be as easy as
1 (800) 786-9199
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Re: Could it be as easy as
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A baby-eating dingo, obviously!
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Re:
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paging Jason Leopold
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Randall Rader, resigned Chief Judge of FCDC, wants the job
Today at Ars Technica: Former judge wants to head patent office, says he’ll “Make Patents Great Again”
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update for the whiners
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