USPTO Monthly Review -- May 2018

I cannot think of a more fitting venue for a celebration of intellectual property than right here, in the halls of Congress. For it was our first Congress, under the leadership of James Madison, that laid the lasting foundations of our modern IP system with the Patent Act of 1790. Indeed, our founders believed IP to be so important that this Patent Act was one of the very first acts introduced in the very first Congress.

Our patent laws, then and now, are based on powers granted in the Constitution.

With respect to the Constitution IP Clause, Madison expressly said, in Federalist No. 43, “the utility of this power will scarcely be questioned.”

To learn more, read the remarks from USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

Events like today’s luncheon are important because they serve to breed innovation across our diverse spectrum of communities. The ABA’s commitment to making the legal world a more diverse place is both inspiring and tremendously important, so I’m honored to be here.

Though Austrian-born American film actress Hedy Lamarr is best known for her accomplishments on the screen, her legacy to the world is far greater than any of her films. That’s because Lamarr, who was born in Austria during World War I and left school at age 15 to become an actress, was also a brilliant inventor who made movies by day and labored over pet inventions by night.

To learn more, read the remarks from USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

Good morning everyone, and thank you to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for organizing and hosting today’s symposium. 

It’s a great pleasure to be among this esteemed group of innovation, intellectual property, and technology transfer leaders. I’ve been looking forward to our discussion today ever since Walt was kind enough to invite me several weeks ago.

The American patent system is as old as our nation. Our very first Congress passed the Patent Act of 1790. Indeed, this was one of the earliest bills introduced in Congress when the nation was first formed.

To learn more, read the remarks from USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

The USPTO’s mission is a critical one. It is directed toward fostering innovation and economic growth by providing innovators and entrepreneurs with the protection and information they need to raise capital, build their businesses and bring their products and services to the marketplace. While I have only been on this job for a couple of months, I know that with the dedication and professionalism I have already seen from the employees, we can lead the Office in a culture of excellence that serves the interests of all of its constituents and the public at large.

We are focused on enhancing the country’s innovation ecosystem and providing strong, reliable and predictable intellectual property rights. In order for the intellectual property system to function as intended, rights owners and the public alike must have confidence in the system. As I mentioned at my confirmation hearing in front of this Committee, when patent owners and the public have confidence in the patents we grant, inventors are encouraged to invent, investments are made, companies grow, jobs are created, science and technology advance. I look forward to working with the leadership and staff throughout USPTO, Secretary Ross and his team, the Committee, and our stakeholders to identify and advance policies that deliver a strong, reliable and predictable intellectual property system. 

To learn more, read the testimony from USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

Thank you Neil (Bradley) for that generous introduction. Thank you also to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its Global Innovation Policy Center for hosting this impressive gathering and inviting me to speak here today.

Dr. Eli Harari, an electrical engineer, always tinkered and invented things. He tells, for example, that he invented a new type of fishing rod, although he never fished. 

“Imagine how much more successful you’d be,” his wife said, “if you’d invent in a field you knew something about.”

And so he did. Dr. Harari is credited with inventing the Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, also known as EEPROM, or “E-squared PROM.” This was in the 1970s, when Harari was working at a major corporation, where he was a star. But a few years later, he wanted to be on his own, to invent, to perfect, to commercialize. In his late 30s, he was also married and had a child. So in the prime of his career, with a family at home, Harari left his comfortable life with major corporations.

To learn more, read the remarks from USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

On April 26, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office celebrated World Intellectual Property (IP) day in Washington, D.C., as well as across the country in Houston, Chicago and Silicon Valley. The World Intellectual Property Organization established World IP Day in 1999 to celebrate the important role of intellectual property, and the contributions made by creators and innovators around the globe. The theme of this year’s World IP Day was “Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity.”

Read the blog by USPTO Director Andrei Iancu.

On April 10, Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality Valencia Martin Wallace held the fourth Patent Quality Chat in the 2018 webinar series titled “Strengthening your IP Internationally using the expanded Collaborative Search Pilot.”

The director and program manager from the International Work Sharing Planning and Implementation Division of the Office of International Patent Cooperation discussed the USPTO’s expanded Collaborative Search Pilot (CSP). CSP provides those cross-filing their patent applications internationally with search results from multiple offices early in the examination process. Attendees learned about the benefits of using this pilot and how to take full advantage to strengthen their intellectual property internationally.

Patent Quality Chat is a monthly, lunchtime webinar series designed to provide information on patent quality topics and to gather public input.

To learn more about the April Patent Quality Chat, watch the archived event stream or view the presentation slides. 

On April 5, the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation, in partnership with the USPTO, hosted An Evening With Vint Cerf at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Best known as a co-father of the internet, Dr. Cerf co-designed TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the internet. In 1997, Dr. Cerf received the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in recognition of this world-changing contribution. 

Brian Fung, a technology reporter for the Washington Post, interviewed Dr. Cerf about his experiences as a student, innovator, and now as an advocate for a free and open internet. The audience had the opportunity to ask Dr. Cerf questions following the interview.

To learn more view the archived event stream.

“Taking Steps to Strengthen our Patent System”
Dennis Crouch, PatentlyO

“USPTO Director Iancu Makes Surprise Appearance at Inventor Conference”
Gene Quinn, IP Watchdog

“Negative patent dialogue must change, says Iancu”
Barney Dixon, IPPro Patents 

“Iancu Will Propose Changes to Patent Challenge System”
Malathi Nayak, Bloomberg

“Director Iancu speaks of Wright Brothers as champions of innovation, not villains”
Gene Quinn, IP Watchdog

“Supreme Court upholds legality of patent review process”
Andrew Chung, Reuters

“USPTO Issues Guidance on Effects of Supreme Court’s Decision in SAS Institute on PTAB Trials”
Steve Brachmann, IP Watchdog

“Proving the Factual Underpinnings of Eligibility”
Dennis Crouch, PatentlyO

“Reaching Patent no. 10,000,000”
Aryeh Helfgott, Commentator