Indiana Intellectual Property Law News
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce‘s United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) announced last week the appointment of Meryl Hershkowitz as Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations. In her new position, Hershkowitz will oversee the examination and processing of applications throughout trademark operations.
“Meryl Hershkowitz is a talented, committed professional who is going to excel in her position as Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Michelle K. Lee. “Her extensive background at the USPTO gives her a unique expertise from which I believe her whole team will benefit.”
“Meryl has done a stellar job here at the USPTO in a variety of roles over the years,” said Commissioner of Trademarks Mary Boney Denison. “She has an impressive track record of success in Trademark Operations. She has much to offer the agency and its customers in her new role.”
Hershkowitz has been one of two group directors for trademark operations of the USPTO for the last seven years. As group director, she led a staff of 10 law offices comprised of more than 200 trademark examining attorneys.
She has been actively involved in the management and coordination of the award-winning Trademark Work at Home Program and was the first Trademark managing attorney to lead a law office of all work at home examining attorneys, piloting the concept of hoteling at the USPTO. She first joined the USPTO as a trademark examining attorney in 1990, became a senior trademark attorney in 1996, a managing attorney in 1998, and joined the Senior Executive Service as a Group Director in 2006.