Trademarks Commissioner Lynne Beresford Retiring; Deputy Deborah Cohn Will Take Over

The Patent and Trademark Office Nov. 8 announced that Commissioner for Trademarks Lynne Beresford will retire on Dec. 30 after a 30-year career with the agency. Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations Deborah Cohn will succeed Beresford.

Beresford began work at the PTO as a trademark examining attorney in 1979. From 1995-2000, Beresford worked in the Office of Legislative and International Affairs, where her portfolio included trademarks, geographical indications, and domain names. She chaired meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Standing Committee on Trademarks, Industrial Designs, and Geographical Indications from its inception in 1997 until late 2001.

Beresford was instrumental ...