Punke Nominated As WTO Ambassador; Stoll To Succeed Doll As US Patent Commissioner

The Obama administration on Thursday announced several key changes related to intellectual property rights and trade.

The White House announced the president’s intent to nominate former Clinton official Michael Punke to serve as US Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization. He would replace long-time USTR official Peter Allgeier, who recently left the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).

Meanwhile, the US Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday announced that Commissioner for Patents John Doll, a 35-year veteran of the USPTO, will retire on 2 October. New USPTO Director David Kappos has nominated Robert (“Bob”) Stoll, a 27-year USPTO veteran, to the position, and Margaret (“Peggy”) Focarino as deputy commissioner of patents. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will appoint Stoll for the five-year term after Doll’s retirement, the office said.

According to USTR, Punke has worked in international trade law and policy for two decades, including as White House director for international economic affairs in the Clinton Administration, senior policy advisor at USTR, and international trade counsel to Senator Max Baucus (Democrat, Montana). Punke has also worked on international trade issues in the private sector, it said.

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, attending a meeting of 36 trade ministers in New Delhi, praised Punke’s nomination.

David Shark, deputy chief of the US Mission to the WTO, is serving as interim charge d’affaires at the mission pending Punke’s confirmation, and Matt Rohde, assistant USTR for the WTO and multilateral affairs, will serve as interim senior official for the Doha round of negotiations.

At the USPTO, Stoll has a background in patent examination, legislative and international affairs, enforcement and most recently was Dean of Training and Education where he “directed efforts to train foreign officials and the public on all aspects of IP,” the office said.

Stoll’s wife Suzanne was the head of the Washington, DC office of the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Focarino is a 32-year USPTO veteran with experience in patent examination and operations.

From the USPTO press release:

“Bob Stoll has held a series of leadership positions during his 27-year career with the USPTO. He began his USPTO career as a patent examiner, then later held critical management roles including Supervisory Patent Examiner; Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks; Administrator of the Office of Legislative and International Affairs where he led a staff of attorneys representing the USPTO before Congress and in diplomatic and policy arenas worldwide; and Director of Enforcement, where he led the USPTO’s efforts to fight the counterfeiting and piracy of American intellectual property. Most recently, Stoll served as Dean of Training and Education for the USPTO where he directed efforts to train foreign officials and the public on all aspects of IP. He holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland, a JD from Catholic University and is a member of the Maryland state bar.

The appointment of Peggy Focarino to the position of Deputy Commissioner for Patents creates a streamlined management structure for the patent organisation. Focarino has been with the agency for more than 32 years, and has significant experience as a patent examiner, supervisory patent examiner and technology center director. During her tenure as Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations, where she had oversight of the agency’s patent examining corps, Focarino implemented a new approach to training examiners, and supported telework programmes for patent examiners and technical support staff.”