The Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, or USC(IP), is a senior official in the

United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bus ...

and the principal advisor to the

United States Secretary of Commerce The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...

on the

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...

matters. In tandem, the Under Secretary is also the Director of the

United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the national patent office and trademark registration authority for the United States. The USPTO's headquarters are in Alex ...

within the Commerce Department, filling dual roles. The Under Secretary is appointed by the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...

, with the consent of the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and po ...

, to serve at the pleasure of the President. President Trump nominated Andrei Iancu to fill the position on August 25, 2017. He was confirmed on February 5, 2018, with a 94-0 vote. He left office on January 20, 2021.

Overview

As the Director of the

, the Under Secretary is responsible for administering laws relevant to granting

patent A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A ...

s and

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from ot ...

s, and for the daily management of the agency's budget and more than 8,000 employees. The Under Secretary is also obligated to conduct programs and studies regarding intellectual property, and to conduct cooperative programs with other foreign intellectual property offices. The rank of Under Secretary is a Level III position within the Executive Schedule. In January 2010, the annual rate of pay for Level III is $165,300.

History

The position of Under Secretary and Director of the United States Patent Office was created by the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, which was signed into law by President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again ...

on November 29, 1999. It was made effective January 17, 2001, by Department of Commerce Department Organization Order (DOO) no. 10-14. The DOO abolished the position's predecessor, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks. The act mandated the creation of the Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Director, who assist the Under Secretary, as well as other aspects of the reorganization of the office as a federal agency.

Reporting officials

Officials reporting to the USC(IP)/Director include: *Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property/Deputy Director of the Patent and Trademark Office *Commissioner of Patents *Commissioner of Trademarks

Officeholders

David Kappos being sworn as USPTO Director (2009-08-13)

Kathi Vidal currently serves as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, assuming the role in 2022.

Andrei Iancu Andrei Iancu (born April 2, 1968) is an American-Romanian engineer and intellectual property attorney, who served as the under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ...

served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property from 2017 to 2021. Michelle Lee was Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property from 2014 to 2017, with Joseph Matal and Teresa Stanek Rea serving as

Acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad r ...

USC(IP)s before and after, respectively. Lee was succeeded by David Kappos. Prior, John Doll was Acting Under Secretary, after replacing

Jon Dudas Jonathan Ward "Jon" Dudas, born July 5, 1968, is the senior vice president, senior associate to the president and secretary of the University of Arizona. He previously served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Directo ...

, who resigned on January 20, 2009. Dudas had been appointed by President George W. Bush in July 2004, and had served as acting Under Secretary since 2002. Previous Under Secretaries include James E. Rogan and inaugural officeholder

Q. Todd Dickinson Q. Todd Dickinson (December 21, 1952 – May 3, 2020) was an Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He was an executive director of the American Intellectual P ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Under Secretary Of Commerce For Intellectual Property *

Overview

History

Reporting officials

Officeholders

See also

References