Ex-Patent Solicitor Takes on Director Review Amid Rising Demand

The US Patent and Trademark Office has received more than 300 petitions challenging decisions on patent validity since a 2021 Supreme Court opinion established the director’s power to reverse tribunal decisions.

More than two years and exactly 313 requests later, the office named its former solicitor to lead the handling of director review requests since “managing the process is likely becoming a full time job within itself,” said former USPTO acting deputy director Drew Hirshfeld.

In his new “director review executive” position, Thomas Krause focuses on “implementing and strengthening” the process that allows parties to seek the director’s reconsideration ...