Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Does the Googler tapped to run the US Patent Office still believe in patent reform?

'Crony' jeers follow Lee into the chair

Analysis The nomination of former Google lawyer Michelle Lee to run the US Patent and Trademark Office has been hailed as a victory for Silicon Valley. In 2007 Lee said the patent system was "out-of-balance" and needed "to be remedied". But does she still think that?

Lee was appointed deputy director of the USPTO last year, having served as deputy counsel for Google from 2003 to 2012. The Washington Post – owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos – reports that Google has been awarded far more fast-track patents than anyone else. The expedited process, called "Track One", was launched in 2011, and Google has bagged 875 patents through the scheme. That's 14 per cent of the 6,187 patents passed via fast track. The next highest is Huawei, with 147 Track One patents.

Lee's appointment has also drawn accusations of cronyism. Another senior Googler, Megan Smith, was appointed "Chief Technology Officer" in the Obama Administration only last month. Writing in Politico details some of the other Googlers in the administration.

Before formally taking office, Lee will have to be confirmed first by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee and then by the full Senate. But she's already running the USPTO as deputy director – the agency hasn't had a permanent director since David Kappos stepped down in February 2013 – and her appointment isn't expected to meet much resistance.

In a feisty opinion piece at Town Hall, Erik Telford calls Google Obama's Haliburton – and if that sounds familiar, the comparison was first made here four years ago. Obama's reliance on Google "has made cronyism a cornerstone of Google's business strategy, relying on government putting their thumb on the scale to ensure that Google always wins," Telford concludes.

Google has recently put more emphasis on the value of intellectual property – if only to avoid paying over the odds for IPR as it did in 2012 when it panic-bought Motorola. It remains to be seen what happens to "patent reform" now. ®

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like