Recent news reports suggest that the White House is considering nominating U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Deputy Director Michelle Lee to be the agency’s permanent leader.
Lee’s tenure as deputy director has included initiatives to improve patent quality and issue patents more efficiently, which has been reassuring to businesses that depend on patents, said Steven Hemminger, partner in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property Group.
“Her past record seems to indicate that she understands the value of patents and the need to eliminate the backlog of applications,” he said.
“Everybody in the IP area is anxious to get the leadership of the patent office nailed down and get beyond this fear of appointing someone that seems to be out there,” Hemminger said.
Lee’s tenure as deputy director has included initiatives to improve patent quality and issue patents more efficiently, which has been reassuring to businesses that depend on patents, said Steven Hemminger, partner in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property Group.
“Her past record seems to indicate that she understands the value of patents and the need to eliminate the backlog of applications,” he said.
“Everybody in the IP area is anxious to get the leadership of the patent office nailed down and get beyond this fear of appointing someone that seems to be out there,” Hemminger said.