At the end of last year, IPWatchdog asked leaders in the field about their wildest dreams for America’s IP system. The most common answer was for former director of the USPTO Andrei Iancu to continue on as director.  Former Deputy USPTO Director Russ Slifer noted that Andrei will be a hard act to follow. 

Andrei immigrated from communist Romania when he was 13 years old, and still, to this day, believes the US is the best place to be for freedom and opportunity. 

“I'm a huge fan of innovation and creation, creativity, and the intellectual property that supports all of that. I do believe in one's ability to take control of their own destiny and succeed, and I think the United States offers that unlike any other country.”

From the first time learning about patents, to pursuing a career in patent litigation where he represented clients on both sides and in all sorts of industries for over 20 years, to creating balance at the USPTO, to highlighting how successfully the IP system has enabled the invention, development, production and rollout of multiple COVID-19 vaccines, not just in the US, but worldwide, Andrei’s passion for patents is palpable:

“This is really the best area of law to be in, one of the best professions to be in, in general, how lucky we are. We work on behalf of the most creative people in the world, literally people who are changing the world and improving the human condition.”

If you’re keen to follow in Andrei Iancu’s footsteps, to be a future director of the USPTO, or to find out how to communicate with the new director, don’t miss Andrei on this week’s Clause 8. 

On today’s podcast:

• From communist Romania to USPTO
• How the IP system has dealt with the pandemic
• The two jobs of the PTO director
• The best way to communicate with the USPTO
• What makes employees successful at the USPTO
• Andrei’s advice to younger patent attorneys

 

Links:

• https://www.irell.com/lawyers-andrei-iancu
• LinkedIn - Andrei Iancu
• Book- The Boys In The Boat

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