Patent Law

From a March 3, 2009 FTC press release:

President Barack Obama designated Jon Leibowitz as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission by a White House Order dated March 2, 2009.

Leibowitz became a Commissioner of the FTC on September 3, 2004, resuming a long career of public service. He was formerly the Democratic chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee from 1997 to 2000, focusing on competition policy and telecommunications matters. Leibowitz was chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism and Technology from 1995 to 1996, and for the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice from 1991 to 1994. He also served as chief counsel to Senator Herb Kohl from 1989 to 2000, and he worked for Senator Paul Simon from 1986 to 1987. In the private sector, Leibowitz served as vice president for congressional affairs for the Motion Picture Association of America from 2000 to 2004, and worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington from 1984 to 1986.

Leibowitz graduated from the New York University School of Law and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and has co-authored amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court on issues ranging from gun control to the census.

The following is from a February 23, 2009 Bloomberg News Service item at APP.com:

On the FTC, Leibowitz has championed the agency?s efforts to prevent brand-name drug companies from paying manufacturers of cheaper, alternative medications to keep their products off the market.

The FTC has filed numerous lawsuits against drugmakers to challenge these so-called ?reverse payments? that occur in drug-patent settlements. After a federal appeals court ruled against the FTC in one case, the agency sought legislation to make it easier for antitrust enforcers to challenge these arrangements, which the FTC argues costs consumers hundreds of millions of dollars in higher drug prices.