The USPTO has announced that Sharon Barner of Foley & Lardner has agreed to become Deputy Director of the USPTO. Barner is the head of Foley's large IP department and has been a supporter of Obama since his youthful days in the Illinois legislature. As was the case with Kappos, Barner will be taking an extreme pay cut, opening herself to public criticism; and moving to DC. She should be applauded for her willingness to become a public servant. Under the law, the USPTO Director has the power to nominate his Deputy, but the actual appointment is done by the Secretary of Commerce (Locke).
The patent office has substantial problems that need to be addressed and that would be addressed regardless of who is in charge at the PTO. The benefit of Kappos & Barner is that have decades of patent law experience and are both committed to building a better patent system for the long-term. They understand how patents are actually used and the motivation behind patentee actions. Hopefully, this means that the eventual changes to the system will be more successful; have fewer unintended consequences; and be less likely to unduly antagonize those already invested in the system.
Barner was on my (rather long) short-list of potential Federal Circuit nominees to replace Judge Schall who is moving to Senior Status next week. Many members of the patent litigation bar are calling for a district court judge to be nominated. Judge Kathleen O'Malley (N.D. Ohio) likely tops the list along with Judge Patti Saris (D.Mass.).
