Director Iancu Appears Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Written March 20, 2019
USPTO Director Andrei Iancu on March 13, 2019, appeared at an oversight hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Iancu testified about the Office’s successful implementation of several changes that “seek to create more certain, predictable and reliable intellectual property rights,” such as the Office’s revised patent subject matter eligibility examination guidance issued earlier this year.
He also noted the USPTO’s recent notice of proposed rulemaking to require U.S. licensed counsel for foreign domiciled trademark applicants, and thanked Congress for recently extending the USPTO’s fee setting authority for eight additional years. Director Iancu also took questions on other pressing issues such as recent patent eligibility guidance, drug-related patents, and PTAB proceedings. A video replay of the hearing and Iancu’s written statement can be seen by following the link in the header.
He also noted the USPTO’s recent notice of proposed rulemaking to require U.S. licensed counsel for foreign domiciled trademark applicants, and thanked Congress for recently extending the USPTO’s fee setting authority for eight additional years. Director Iancu also took questions on other pressing issues such as recent patent eligibility guidance, drug-related patents, and PTAB proceedings. A video replay of the hearing and Iancu’s written statement can be seen by following the link in the header.