U.S. Patent Office names acting director

By

Tony Ware

Alexandria, UNITED STATES: The US Patent and Trademark Office is shown 14 March 2006 in Alexandria, Virgina. Congress established the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to issue patents on behalf of the government.The United States Patent and Trademark Office as a distinct bureau dates from the year 1802 when a separate official in the Department of State who became known as ?Superintendent of Patents? was placed in charge of patents. The United States Patent and Trademark Office administers the patent laws as they relate to the granting of patents for inventions, and performs other duties relating to patents. AFP Photo/Paul J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J.RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Associate Solicitor Joseph Matal has been tapped to serve as undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO until the nomination and confirmation of a new director.


U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the interim leadership choice as effective immediately following the resignation of Michelle K. Lee, who joined the agency in 2012, became interim director in 2014 and was formally nominated to the director position that year by then-President Obama (though it took Congress until a second nomination in 2015 to confirm her). Sources have told Politico that Lee unexpectedly quit on June 6 following months of tensions centered around funding issues under the Trump administration. 

Matal’s experience with the agency includes time in the USPTO’s Office of Solicitor, as well as a stint as acting chief of staff. 

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Tony Ware