Patent Examiner Union Chief to Retire as Labor Fights Proceed

The president of the union representing more than 9,000 patent examiners and other employees at the US Patent and Trademark Office is stepping aside.

Kathleen Duda, who’s led the Patent Office Professional Association since 2019, will retire at the end of May, she confirmed to Bloomberg Law. Duda has worked at the PTO for 34 years. She said she hasn’t accepted any buyout offers from the agency and is retiring at her own accord.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead POPA for the last 6+ years,” she wrote in an email to POPA members and shared ...