Unfortunate: Patent Office Director Michelle Lee Has Resigned
from the not-good-for-patent-issues dept
There was this bizarre mystery earlier this year where no one in the government would even say who was in charge of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). There had been public statements made that the Trump administration was keeping on Michelle Lee, but her picture had been deleted from the Commerce Department website, and public appearances were being canceled and no one would say what was up. Finally, in mid-March, after months of questioning, the USPTO told people that Lee was still in the job. To us, this was a good thing. The past few USPTO directors had been cut from the "more patents is always a good thing" mold, whereas Lee actually recognized that bad patents harmed innovation. And even though the last time the Patent Office got concerned about bad patents it allowed the patent approval backlog to fill up, under Lee the backlog has reached its lowest point in a decade.
She seemed to be doing a great job all around -- though patent trolls and the group of patent lawyers who love the trolls were campaigning about her -- and it appeared she would stick around. That would be a good thing. For all the craziness going on in the government right now, having competent leadership at the USPTO would be one less thing to worry about. But... now it's being reported that Lee has suddenly resigned and sent a goodbye email to staff. That's bad news on the patent front. Of course, it may be ages before any new director is appointed. As I type this, of the 559 key positions requiring Senate confirmation, Trump hasn't even named a nominee for 431 of them. That number rises to 456 if you include nominees who have been announced but not formally submitted. And that doesn't even get to the 63 nominations that haven't yet been confirmed. Adding the new USPTO director to that pile may mean no new USPTO director for.... who the hell knows how long.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: michelle lee, patent policy, patent trolls, patents, uspto
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Compilation
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Position Appointments
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Position Appointments
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Position Appointments
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Position Appointments
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Position Appointments
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
And there's your reason
The President of the United States has frontotemporal dementia which is exacerbating his narcissistic personality disorder, the Russians are calling the shots, and the Republican Party is clinging to this trainwreck because party is more important to them than country.
I can't blame anyone for getting the hell out of Dodge.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
.
I'd develop a brain clot laughing so hard if this wasn't so gravely important!... but, the following angle on this, may prove helpful re how the U.S. Congress should proceed on the Appointments you've outlined!...
.
Now that Joe Lieberman has bowed out of the race for the role of FBI Director (citing a conflict of interest with one of Trump's White House staff!), one of the things that should SERIOUSLY be considered!... and given that Trump is-- himself!-- in an O-B-V-I-O-U-S conflict of interest in HIS attempt to Appoint a new Director for the FBI!... is the invocation (BY IMPARTIAL STAKEHOLDERS WITH STANDING!) of a NEVER BEFORE SEEN OR HEARD OF Legal Injunction against Donald Trump, that would compel him to-- how shall I say it?-- RECUSE HIMSELF from effecting ANY FURTHER WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS with respect to any Executive Position that would potentially have ANY ROLE in any Investigation into Trump's ties with Russia, re the 2016 Federal Elections (AND WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE THE POSITION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI!)!... and thus, affording other U.S. Federal Congressional Members who are unaffected by the Investigations currently underway, to decide the necessary Executive Appointments that/ which are needed to complement the remaining White House Executive Positions to be filled! For me-- at least!-- this is THE ONLY TRULY LOGICAL SOLUTION to the "EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT CATCH-22" that Donald Trump is presently in!
.
Lastly... I can't wait to see and hear what James Comey has to offer up this Thursday, on some of the nonsense that has been a part of Trump's 2016 "Presidential campaign" run!... and, etc.! This White House "wigged out" dog and pony show can only stand so much more "revelations", before it begins to completely implode!
.
Please!... no emails!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hello Senator Shiva
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/wendy-cockcroft-web-design-wendy-cockcroft-interserveco m/internet/wendy-cockcroft-web-design-wendy-cockcroft-interservecom-wendy-cockcroft-manchester-u-128 0160
"Ms Cockcroft suddenly became very angry and threatened to ruin my business before it started. She said that she was in with a very influential group of people on a technical blog who would write about me and many other people would comment. She said this would mean that my reputation would be ruined and it would remain at the tip of Google. Wendy Cockcroft refused to refund my money, refused to re-do the work and threatened to destroy my business and personal reputation before it even started."
I mean, Dr. Diaz, the author of this report, essentially calls her a Pirate, right? And even though she posts under multiple names, it's really easy to distinguish her "Mean Girl" voice, it's the same on her Twitter account and her other public posts. She's a self-proclaimed internet Pirate, she pretends to be a gang by impersonating others, and she sails the seas of both the Internet and web design market in London using her Pirate friends to steal money from others. Shakedown artist, you know what I mean? The original Mean Girl. She does write a lot, though, and that does deserve a little respect.
What do you think about Wendy Cockcroft and Michael Masnick and the TechDirt Pirate Ship sailing it's Black Flag over the Seas of the Internet?
(this should be interesting - similar to flashing lights to an epileptic)
ps: My advice is go for a long and detailed answer - I can help you decipher your sexual metaphors for their real meaning - no charge (this time)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
Kiss me, Hamilton.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Hello Senator Shiva
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
I think what you are saying is that Shiva, the Inventor of Email, has (unlike Michael Masnick) your respect and admiration, as he has mine, and as he has many others (thousands and thousands, actually). You aspire to meet his level of accomplishment and public acclaim, that's probably what you mean.
About Masnick, Wendy, Leigh and PaulT, yes, I agree they are curse worthy. As a group, they are deceptive and promote an ugly and nasty agenda in order to enrich themselves as the expense of others. It would seem your speech about those whom you disagree with is more clear than your speech about those you do agree with. Perhaps you could consider reversing your cursing (I'm a poet and didn't know it).
Anyway, you probably mean you feel a sense of anticipation, just as I do, as more sane voices (and some others) join together to expose this Fake News site for what it is. Anticipation of that joyous moment when the whole of the TechDirt Defamation Database is Destroyed forever.
(no charge, as promised)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
Oh, Hamilton. Hold me close, lest my faith waver. Assure me that everything is all right, Shiva will save us.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Not The Donald's Fault...He Said So
The Prez already "explained" that it's the pesky Dems, who are OBSTRUCTIONISTing him ( http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/05/531602029/trump-calls-democrats-obstructionists-bu t-hes-only-nominated-11-ambassadors ).
I must infer that the Prez has super-secret intel that a Democrat cabal (possibly Muslim) has developed a thought-blocking mind-ray that prevents the Prez and his staff from coming up with nominees. Are these mind-rays even legal? Would a ban on Democrat mind-rays pass Constitutional muster?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Not The Donald's Fault...He Said So
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
...Can't say that was surprising, to be honest.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
It's telling, though, that these are who Shiva Ayyadurai has in his corner.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
.
Mike has made CLEAR REFERENCE to the HAVOC on Capitol Hill that has resulted in the absence of NUMEROUS APPOINTMENTS!... and not just the person who would make a call on PATENTS! My concern, is that POTUS' very ability to make a PROPER JUDGEMENT CALL on Appointments, is a subject of MAJOR CONCERN! And, in particular, his "JUDGEMENT CALL" on the role of FBI DIRECTOR!... the which-- AND AS ANY BLIND PERSON CAN ASSESS!-- represents an INHERENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST!
.
Therefore, you can communicate back to the Digital Human Rights violating GANGSTA COMMENT LOGGERS and explain to them how you're ABUNDANTLY CONFUSED... AND BIASED!... re my assessment of Mike's report! You see PATENTS!... I see APPOINTMENTS! Bye bye!... and take care!
.
Please!... no emails!
.
P.S.: And don't "flag" yourself to death! And Mike!... take that flag and break it in half!... a handful of crybabies shouldn't be allowed to HARASS F-R-E-E E-X-P-R-E-S-S-I-O-N!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ONLY GOD IS ORIGINAL
.
If some ORIGINAL INVENTOR... AND WHO, OF COURSE, DIDN'T STEAL AND/ OR MURDER SOME INNOCENT SOUL/ S TO OBTAIN HIS/ HER ORIGINAL INVENTION!... have designed the very same ORIGINAL WORK on the opposite sides of a country (e.g., America!), why should a Government (ANY GOVERNMENT!) grant the RIGHT of one ORIGINAL INVENTOR to use same over another, just because one filed some JERK PATENT DOCUMENT before someone else did! M-O-R-O-N-I-C!
.
My solution is simple... and something offered up by Mark Zuckerberg recently!... GIVE EVERYONE A GUARANTEED ANNUAL INCOME! And so then, everyone will have sufficient funds to wipe themselves at the end of the day! As for those coming up with "ORIGINAL BRIGHT IDEAS"!... either their "ORIGINAL INVENTIONS" serve mankind, or they're chucked out into the garbage with the remaining trash! If, on the other hand, a useful idea has some social merit, then such "ORIGINAL INVENTORS" can be helped to extend their "SOCIAL BENEFIT" beyond the ORIGINAL DESIGN, by being given "additional resources" so that this "ORIGINAL THINKER" can further A-S-S-I-S-T S-O-C-I-E-T-Y!... OTHERWISE, THE ORIGINAL THINKER CAN TAKE A TRIP ON A STARSHIP TO THE PLANET, "I DON'T GIVE A SH*T ABOUT LIFE, AND HUMANITY", A-N-D B-E L-E-F-T T-O H-I-S/ H-E-R O-W-N "O-R-I-G-I-N-A-L D-E-V-I-C-E-S"! And of MAJOR NOTE... T-H-E-R-E A-R-E N-O O-R-I-G-I-N-A-L P-A-T-E-N-T C-L-A-I-M-S I-N H-E-A-V-E-N! Bye bye, SMUCKS!... wherever you are!... and take care!
,
Please!... no emails!
.
P.S.: Oh!... and I suggest that the "BRIGHT IDEA" called COMMENT FLAGGING be chucked out with the banana peels and soiled underwear!... and to be replaced with a NONPATENTABLE AI App that tosses out AMORAL and IMMORAL "GANSTA COMMENT LOGGING" possing as R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L D-I-S-C-O-U-R-S-E!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
I'm totally real, though.
Every nation Eats the paint chips it Deserves!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
...The genius behind Shiva Ayyadurai's public relations department, ladies and gentlemen.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
Again, I ask: Why did Dias not go to the police to report a criminal offence? Because none was committed; I did no more engage in criminal extortion than post on this site as multiple personalities. Did you write that troll post and pretend it was a customer review, then try to get me fired from my job?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
He has only to reply with a list of early adopters and blow a big raspberry at me. He can even flip me the bird if he likes, I won't mind. And I certainly won't complain. I mean, if it's actually true that Shiva is the inventor of email, meaning that without him there would be no email at all, such a list would be easy enough to get hold of. Heck, even one name would do to be getting on with. But no, it's not forthcoming, though the metaphorical raspberries and bird-flipping have been very entertaining.
Again, I post as me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: THE APPOINTMENT OF APPOINTMENTS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: ONLY GOD IS ORIGINAL
possing as R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L D-I-S-C-O-U-R-S-E!
Erm, that's not how you engage in rational discourse.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: ONLY GOD IS ORIGINAL
.
Please!... no emails!... Jesus is Lord!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Position Appointments
And also they don't demand a declaration of absolute personal loyalty before being willing to nominate a candidate for a post.
(To be fair, we don't know for a fact that Trump does either, but it would seem to fit the facts we do know and it would explain a few things.)
[ link to this | view in thread ]