July 28, 2004
#04-12

Press Release, 04-12

Commissioner for Trademarks Announces Departure

PRESS RELEASE

Anne H. Chasser, Commissioner for Trademarks at the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that she will be leaving the USPTO on September 1, 2004.

"It has been a privilege to work with Acting Under Secretary Jon W. Dudas and to serve the Administration, the trademark community, and the employees of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the past five years," said Chasser.

Acting Under Secretary Dudas noted that "Anne Chasser is a dedicated public servant and we appreciate her contributions to the USPTO."

Ms. Chasser joined the USPTO as special advisor in September 1999 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks in November 1999. Following the enactment of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999, Ms. Chasser was appointed Commissioner for Trademarks in March 2000.

During her tenure, the USPTO’s trademark operation initiated many advances in electronic government. Today, anywhere in the world, trademark applicants can search, file, check application status, review all published and registered marks, respond to office actions and complete all routine trademark registration business activities through the Trademark Electronic Business Center at www.uspto.gov.

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