Patent Law

Nincompooped

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

USPTO Deputy Director Margaret J.A. Peterlin is throwing in the towel, not a day too soon. From the PTO announcement:

In addition to enhancing operational efficiencies, Deputy Under Secretary Peterlin strategically positioned the USPTO as a leader in such important policy debates as patent modernization legislation, in which the USPTO played a lead role in forming and communicating the Administration's position.

As irrelevant as she was incompetent in her position, Peterlin survived a lawsuit to have her rousted mere days from her appointment, on the grounds that her worthless legacy was foretold. The judge wouldn't hear it.

Peterlin got Rodney Dangerfield treatment ("no respect") from the examiners corp.

She asked business school students how to improve the patent office. The project whimpered with no impact, as did her tenure at the agency.

Peterlin's legacy at the PTO is one of a lost opportunity, wasted time in lieu of forward movement. Good riddance.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on July 29, 2008 (boomark / email).