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7 June 2017Patents

Michelle Lee resigns from USPTO

Michelle Lee stepped down from her role as director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) yesterday.

Shortly before Donald Trump took the US presidency, there had been speculation that Lee would step down or be replaced.

In January, sources speaking to The Hill and Politico suggested she would remain in the role under the Trump administration.

Then, in April, more than 50 associations, including Facebook, Amazon and Google, signed a letter to Trump backing Lee’s continued leadership at the USPTO.

Lee’s reason for departure is not clear and her plans were not disclosed.

In a statement, Wilbur Ross, US secretary of commerce, praised Lee for her service to the US and the Department of Commerce.

“As the first woman in our country’s history to serve as director of the USPTO, Michelle has worked tirelessly to serve our stakeholders and the American public. We wish her well in her next endeavour,” he said.

Lee was appointed in 2015 when the US Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to make her director.

Before the appointment, Lee had served as the USPTO’s deputy under secretary of commerce for intellectual property, and deputy director.

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More on this story

Patents
27 April 2017   More than 50 associations, including Facebook, Amazon and Google, have signed a letter to President Donald Trump backing Michelle Lee’s continued leadership at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Patents
8 June 2017   After the news broke that Michelle Lee was stepping down from her role as director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), speculation began over who should be next to take on the role.
Patents
19 September 2019   Former US Patent and Trademark Office director Michelle Lee has moved to Amazon Web Services to lead a team focused on cloud-based, artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions.