Managing Intellectual Property

Why the patent community welcomes Kappos as USPTO head

22 June 2009

Eileen McDermott, New York

Practitioners from across the patent community have cheered US President Barack Obama’s choice for USPTO director, David Kappos of IBM, who was nominated on Thursday

Companies and organisations including GlaxoSmithKline, the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform, BIO, AIPLA and IPO told Managing IP they back the administration's pick, and believe he is the right person to tackle the challenges facing the Office.

David Kappos, USPTO Director nominee
David Kappos

Kappos will succeed Bush-appointed Jon Dudas, who led the PTO for four years. He was criticised by many practitioners for his lack of practical IP experience.

"We welcome the nomination of David Kappos to be the new Director of the USPTO," Sherry Knowles, senior vice president and chief intellectual property counsel at GSK, told Managing IP .

"He is well known for his deep knowledge and experience in the patent area. We look forward to working productively with him to address the substantial challenges facing the PTO in a manner that promotes innovation, supports inventors in their effort to obtain valid patents and restores user confidence in the US patent system."



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