John Love Named Deputy Commissioner for USPTO Patent Examination Policy

On January 23, the USPTO named John J. Love deputy commissioner for patent examination policy for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Love most recently served as the acting deputy commissioner for patent examination policy, and has previous experience
in Technical Center 2600, which handles Internet-related inventions. Congratulations, John!

As deputy commissioner, Love will be responsible for changes in patent practice, rules of practice and procedures, examining priorities, and classification of technological arts. He leads the operations of the Patent Legal Administration, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Legal Administration, the Office of Petitions, and International Liaison.

Love joined the USPTO in 1969 and has served the agency in a variety of leadership positions, including director of the technology center with responsibility for examining business method patents and computer related inventions. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1988.

See USPTO announcement here.

View John Love's bio here.

View USPTO organizational chart here.


Background Articles/Information:

Presentation "Steps Taken To Improve Patent Quality" (2002), presented at FTC/DOJ Hearings on the Implications of Competition and Patent Law and Policy. See summary of presentation here, starting on page 91.

John has been a supporter of 3rd-party involvement in the examination process, much like the "Community Patent Review" project set to be unveiled in April.

Co-Author: "Successfully Preparing and Prosecuting a Business Method Patent Application."

Discussion with CFO.com on business method patents.