Lee Reportedly Remaining as PTO Director in Trump Administration

News reports that Michelle Lee will keep her job as Patent and Trademark Office director in the Trump administration are welcome, said Computer & Communications Industry Association Thursday in a statement. "This is a wise decision, bringing continuity to critical issues at a critical time. It supports the patent office’s ongoing efforts to improve patent quality under Lee’s leadership," said CCIA President Ed Black. The group's patent counsel, Matt Levy, said Lee's initiatives to enhance patent quality should be continued under her leadership. "There is still much work remaining to streamline and enhance the process of reviewing patent applications, and I think that Director Lee has shown that she is someone who can move that work forward," he said. Politico had reported that Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., told a tech industry gathering about the reappointment of Lee, who met with commerce secretary-nominee Wilbur Ross earlier in the week (see 1701180069). The Trump transition team didn't comment.