Patent Validity Review Changes on Hold for Next PTO Director; Bloomberg BNA, August 3, 2017

Malathi Nayak, Bloomberg BNA; Patent Validity Review Changes on Hold for Next PTO Director

"Plans to change patent validity review proceedings at the Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board are on hold, the office’s interim director said Aug. 3.

“What direction we take with broad changes to PTAB would have to await the appointment of a permanent director,” Joseph Matal said at the quarterly meeting of the agency’s Patent Public Advisory Committee.

President Donald Trump hasn’t nominated a replacement for former Director Michelle K. Lee, who resigned in June."

USPTO Announces New Patent and Trademark Advisory Committee Members; Press Release, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), 1/9/17

Press Release, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); USPTO Announces New Patent and Trademark Advisory Committee Members:

"The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced new Patent and Trademark Advisory Committee Members for the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC).

The Public Advisory Committees for the USPTO were created through the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act statute in the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 to advise the Secretary of Commerce and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on the management of patent and trademark operations. The Public Advisory Committees review the policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the patent and trademark operations, respectively, and advise the director on these matters.  Each committee has nine voting members who are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Secretary of Commerce. Each member serves a three-year term."