US election 2020: five IP stories from the year

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US election 2020: five IP stories from the year

Trump v Biden 2020 Presidential Election

As the Trump v Biden battle goes to the wire, Managing IP recaps on election-relevant stories from 2020

With several key states yet to declare, the US election is going to the wire – and may not even be decided today.

While you wait, Managing IP brings you five articles from 2020 that are relevant to the election. 

We will bring you more coverage when we know whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden will be the next US president. 

Election 2020: how politics shapes the pharma patent debate

Just a week before election day, reporter Charlotte Kilpatrick spoke to in-house counsel about how politics has attempted to chip away at patent rights in the pharma industry.

Sources said that while the result won’t have a dramatic impact on patents, they are keeping an eye on how politics could shape the pharma patent debate in the future nonetheless.

Iancu: there’s a lot still to be done – for me, or the next director

Americas editor Patrick Wingrove spoke to USPTO director Andrei Iancu, whom Trump appointed in 2017. 

In the interview, Iancu set out his hopes for the office, particularly in diversity and inclusion, and his proudest accomplishments since taking office in 2018.

Exclusive: DoJ antitrust chief reveals plans to leave in 2021

In October, Patrick Wingrove revealed that the head of the US Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division would step down after Trump’s first term regardless of the election result.

Makan Delrahim later reflected on his tenure as he prepares to depart – probably for the private sector.

Survey: in-house counsel on the US patent landscape

Long before election day, reporter Rani Mehta surveyed more than 50 in-house counsel on the state of the US patent landscape.

Among other findings, the survey showed that respondents wanted to see more remote hearings in the future and that Delaware (which happens to be Biden's home state) was their preferred court to litigate in.

In-house survey: Trump takes early edge over Biden on IP

As part of the survey in May, Rani Mehta found that Trump had taken an early edge over Biden, at least when it came to IP matters. 

When asked which man's IP views were better for their business, 20% voted Trump, 11% picked Biden, and the remainder either didn't know or picked neither candidate. 



more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

US firms have been on top of the lateral hiring market and performed strongly in Managing IP's Americas Awards and the IP STARS rankings, a trend that could continue this year
Amicus brief signed by various firms said Donald Trump’s executive orders have sought to ‘cow every other firm, large and small, into submission’
Börge Seeger reveals the similarities between IP strategy and F1, and opines on bookshops, espresso machines, and late-night emails
The tie-up will add around 10 US-based partners to Herbert Smith Freehills’ IP offering
Colleen Tracy James, who joined as co-chair of the life sciences patent litigation group a little over a year ago, reveals her thoughts on hiring associates and AI
OpenAI's latest arguments at the Delhi High Court and a victory for Under Armour were also among the top talking points this week
Andrea Stone explains how her in-house experience gives her a unique perspective, and why Ballard Spahr’s combination with Lane Powell made it an ideal time to join
The pair had been fighting in multiple jurisdictions but have agreed to settle all litigation
Law firms may try to relate PTAB briefs to broader economic concerns in response to the USPTO’s latest guidance
IP Inclusive’s 10-year celebration provides reasons to be positive in the face of troubling attacks against DEI initiatives
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