PTO Director 'Optimistic' About Trump Administration's IP Policy Stances

Patent and Trademark Office Director Michelle Lee said Tuesday that she is “optimistic” that President-elect Donald Trump's administration “will share our appreciation of the importance of intellectual property as a driver of economic growth.” IP stakeholders have said they believe the incoming administration will take a hands-off approach to IP policymaking, allowing the House and Senate Judiciary committees to take the lead (see 1611090039). Further discussions on patent litigation revamp legislation “will likely occur” later in the 115th Congress “after some of the other priorities including filling a Supreme Court vacancy, immigration and tax reform are addressed, and any legislative patent reform will likely be more targeted, rather than the comprehensive reforms we’ve seen in prior Congresses,” Lee said during a speech at an Intellectual Asset Management event: “I would hope any legislative proposal will take into account the numerous positive changes that have occurred recently in the patent system,” including recent federal court rulings. Legislative discussions may include “venue reform and possibly changes to Section 101” of the Patent Act and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Lee said in a prepared version of her speech.