FEDERALhearing transcript

Oversight Hearing: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (May 2019)

Original title: OVERSIGHT OF THE U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

January 1, 2021

intellectual property patents trademarks congressional oversight commerce

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing serves as the primary mechanism for Congress to review the management, policy direction, and operational efficiency of the agency responsible for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The agency is subject to congressional review and must respond to inquiries regarding its operations.

Intellectual Property Holders

Policy changes or operational shifts discussed at the hearing may impact the patent and trademark application process.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2021.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held an on May 9, 2019, to review the operations and performance of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The hearing featured testimony from the Director of the USPTO and included questioning from members of the House Judiciary Committee.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on May 9, 2019, at 2:10 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The session was an oversight hearing regarding the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Andrei Iancu, Director of the USPTO, provided both oral and written testimony.
The hearing record includes follow-up questions submitted by multiple members of Congress to the USPTO Director.
The record includes a formal response from Director Iancu to the questions submitted for the record.
An article from the Wall Street Journal was submitted into the record by Representative Andy Biggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?

It is an , meaning the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet is reviewing the activities, policies, and management of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Who testified at this hearing?

The Honorable Andrei Iancu, who served as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at the time.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Lobbying Activity

ACG Advocacy

on behalf of Netlist, Inc.

2026

“Intellectual property and innovation policy oversight. Patent reform. AI policy.”

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Formalized Oversight Process

The document demonstrates the standard cycle of congressional oversight, where oral testimony is supplemented by extensive written follow-up questions and formal responses.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Andrei Iancu

Connected Entities

personMartha Roby“Ranking Member of the Subcommittee.”Map →

organizationHouse Committee on the Judiciary“The parent committee overseeing the subcommittee.”Map →

personAndrei Iancu“Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO;”Map →

organizationU.S. Patent and Trademark Office“The federal agency under review.”Map →

personHenry C. Hank Johnson, Jr.“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

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