Rea Departs, Focarino Takes Over As Head Of USPTO

US Patent Commissioner Margaret A. (Peggy) Focarino today took over the duties as head of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), after Acting Director Teresa Rea’s resignation took effect on 21 November, the USPTO said in a release.

The release is here.

In effect, the top two positions at the USPTO are now vacant: the director and the deputy director. The USPTO is part of the US Commerce Department.

The director position – which is also called the undersecretary of Commerce for intellectual property – has been vacant since David Kappos left for the private sector early this year.

It is unknown how long the director position will remain open, as the nomination will come from the White House and no indication has been given yet, according to sources.

Rea was serving as acting director in her position as deputy director of the USPTO (and deputy undersecretary of Commerce for intellectual property). It is unclear what her next post will be after leaving the USPTO.

Under Commerce Department/USPTO rules, if the top two posts are empty, the patent commissioner assumes the director duties. That means Focarino, a USPTO veteran, also has oversight of trademarks for now.