Spotlight on Commerce: Michelle K. Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO

Serving as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, I am in charge of one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world. I serve as a principal advisor to President Barack Obama on domestic and international IP matters, and I provide leadership and oversight of the day-to-day management of the policy, budget, and operations for an agency with more than 12,000 employees.

I am incredibly proud of the work our employees do and the role this agency plays in protecting people’s ideas, which is essential to driving the United States’ innovation-based economy. A strong IP system contributes to maintaining a strong US economy by providing inventors and companies the chance to develop their technologies, grow their businesses, and expand sales of their products. Recently, I called upon leaders in the tech industry to join me in a commitment to open up and expand opportunities for women in technology. Working together, we can better prepare more girls and young women to pursue careers in technology, and then empower them to thrive in those careers for the benefit of society and our economy. Innovation drives our economy, and I truly believe that unlocking and fully utilizing the innovative potential of women will be key to America’s continued success.