Summary: Michelle Lee is finally (if not belatedly) shielded by a bunch of large technology companies; The deep-pocketed industry finally steps in line with our position, which is usually when things turn out the way we advocate for

TECHRIGHTS has published over a dozen articles defending Director Lee (of the USPTO) from vicious attacks that include a smear campaign and false rumours. She does not deserve any of that. In many ways, she's the opposite of the President of the EPO and she has contributed to great improvements in the system.

Watchtroll and its ilk, attacking Lee every week (sometimes more than once a week), played a big role in the attack on character and IAM too participated in these attacks on Lee. It's despicable to watch and it serves to illustrate just how low the patent microcosm would stoop if it didn't get its way. Big technology firms, as opposed to the patent microcosm (trolls and liars), support Lee. As even IAM admitted yesterday:

What has not been clear is just who tech’s choice might be, but earlier this week any doubt was cleared up when a large constituency of big name companies including Amazon, Facebook, Google and Samsung wrote to President Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging them to leave Lee in place or appoint someone who will continue the work she has begun at the agency.

The letter was organised by United for Patent Reform, the advocacy group that has been pushing hardest for new patent legislation. As well as including some of the biggest tech companies, the signatories also include organisations representing builders, retailers and the auto industry. [...]

Under Lee’s watch, the letter points out, the PTO has put a strong focus on improving patent quality through the Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative and via its oversight of the post-issuance review process. “Patent quality, which had unfortunately been neglected for too long, is finally being recognised as critical to the strength and success of our patent system,” the letter states. “We believe that the American economy would greatly benefit from [Lee’s] continued leadership or the leadership of a USPTO Director committed to the priorities she has instituted and championed,” it concludes.

Maybe IAM should stop meddling and spreading false rumours, promoting Randall Rader and so on. IAM has been a big part of the negative campaign it speaks of. IAM is a truly malicious entity (or entities) in every single way. Unless one is a detriment to the patent system, in which case IAM is a front... ⬆