By Dennis Crouch
Joe Matal was instrumental in the 2012 passage of America Invents Act. At the time, Joe was counsel to the Judiciary Committee and, although on the republican side, Joe really was the in-house knowledge base for members of both parties. Joe recently wrote a major two-part article on the AIA and how it should be interpreted based upon the legislative history. He has recently joined the USPTO in the solicitor's office as an assistant solicitor. Another new USPTO employee is Mark Guetlich. Mark is stepping into what I see as an extremely important role leading external affairs for the patent side of the USPTO. Mark led Microsoft's international patent team for many years and most recently served as SAP's IP counsel based in Germany. Mark is a graduate of the University of Missouri as is the Microsoft Chief Patent Counsel Bart Eppenauer. Congratulations Joe and Mark!
President Obama has made two excellent nomination announcements. George Washington University law professor F. Scott Kieff will be nominated to join the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) as a USITC member. George Mason University law professor Joshua Wright is being nominated to become a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. Both choices are interesting because Scott and Josh are claimed by conservatives as thought leaders for the republican party. However, both are known for digging into problems to find the best practical solutions rather than being driven by ideology. In their roles, both will make an impact on patent law. Congratulations to Scott and Josh!
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