Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by cmn32480 on Wednesday June 07 2017, @02:21PM   Printer-friendly
from the fighting-against-the-tide-is-tiring dept.

TechDirt reports

[...] The past few USPTO directors had been cut from the "more patents is always a good thing" mold, whereas Lee actually recognized that bad patents harmed innovation. And even though the last time the Patent Office got concerned about bad patents it allowed the patent approval backlog to fill up, under Lee the backlog has reached its lowest point in a decade.[paywall]

[...] For all the craziness going on in the government right now, having competent leadership at the USPTO would be one less thing to worry about. But... now it's being reported that Lee has suddenly resigned and sent a goodbye email to staff. That's bad news on the patent front.

Of course, it may be ages before any new director is appointed. As I type this, of the 559 key positions requiring Senate confirmation, Trump hasn't even named a nominee for 431 of them. [...] Adding the new USPTO director to that pile may mean no new USPTO director for.... who the hell knows how long.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday June 07 2017, @06:37PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday June 07 2017, @06:37PM (#522120) Journal

    "or if I see some concrete good come of it"

    Well, on the bright side, there are a lot of six and seven digit salaries that the government is not paying out.

    We might ponder the benefits of hamstringing government agencies. Agencies always try to grow. They push self aggrandizing statements and reports, making it look like they've accomplished a lot, while asking for more money, expanded authority, and additional missions. Well - make them go without some of that senior leadership, and maybe they'll focus more on their existing missions. The fat cat in the big office won't be in the office, with little to do. Well, little to do aside from lobbying his superiors for more money, more authority, more, more, more.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV-rhtet4Ow [youtube.com]

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2