Google’s former top patent lawyer has been put in charge of America’s patent and trademark office (USPTO).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25363266
Michelle Lee was made deputy director of the USPTO this week and will run the agency while it seeks a new boss.
Currently head of the Silicon Valley office of the patent agency, Ms Lee starts her new job on 13 January.
Google, like many other tech firms, has clashed with rivals over the technologies used in many of its products. In particular, Google has fought rivals in court for the right to use some innovations in its smartphones.
One of the USPTO’s priorities should be tackling its huge backlog of patents, said Ms Lee. Statistics released by the agency reveal that currently there are almost 600,000 patents awaiting assessment by its examiners.
In addition, said Ms Lee, she would work to improve the quality of patents being approved in a bid to reduce the number of  lawsuits kicked off when firms are granted the rights to overly broad technological innovations.