TANG REAPPOINTED WIPO DIRECTOR GENERAL
On Wednesday World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Member States voted to appoint DAREN TANG to a second six-year term as WIPO Director General, running from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2032. In a press release, Director Tang said he would continue to work with Member States to “transform IP from a technical and legal matter into a business, economic and financial asset that helps drive innovation and creativity, and serves as a catalyst for jobs, investments, growth and development for all countries.”
IPO continues to work with WIPO and participate in WIPO meetings. On behalf of IPO, Senior Director for Global Affairs TOM VALENTE attended yesterday’s Meetings of the Assemblies virtually. Both Valente and Executive Director JESSICA LANDACRE will participate in the July Meetings of the Assemblies and related events on behalf of IPO.
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING ON CHINA’S IP THEFT
Today at10:15 a.m. ET the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled “Stealth Stealing: China’s Ongoing Theft of U.S. Innovation.” Scheduled witnesses are MARK COHEN (Asia Society of Northern California and Asia Society Policy Institute; University of Akron Law School Intellectual Property Institute), TOM LYONS (2430 Group), and HELEN TONER (Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University). The hearing will be held in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building and streamed on the committee’s website.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW FY 2027 COMMERCE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
Today at 10:00 a.m. ET the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing to review the President’s fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Department of Commerce. Secretary of Commerce HOWARD LUTNICK will testify. The USPTO is funded through the Commerce Department budget. The hearing will be held in Room 192 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building and streamed on the committee’s website.
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO HEAR FROM U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE ON 2026 TRADE POLICY AGENDA
Today at 10:00a.m. ET the House Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing on the Trump Administration’s 2026 trade policy agenda. U.S. Trade Representative JAMIESON GREER will testify. Trade policy intersects with IP protection through U.S. trade agreements and enforcement mechanisms, including Special 301 proceedings. The hearing will be held in Room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building and streamed on the committee’s website.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD COMMERCE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING
Tomorrow at 11:00a.m. ET the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing on the Department of Commerce. Secretary of Commerce HOWARD LUTNICK will testify. The hearing will be held in Room 2358-A of the Rayburn House Office Building and streamed on the subcommittee’s website.
UPC JUDGE RONNY THOMAS TO SPEAK AT IPO’S EUROPEAN PRACTICE COMMITTEE CONFERENCE IN FRANKFURT – 28 MAY
For the 13th year, IPO’s European Practice Committee is organizing a conference entitled “Watch Your Words – Claim Interpretations, Estoppel, Information Sharing, Chat Bots and Much More.” The 2026 event will take place on 28 May at Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten in Frankfurt, Germany. MICHAEL FLEUCHAUS (Fleuchaus & Gallo Partnerschaft mbB) will moderate a panel discussion on claim construction. Speakers include HSU MIN CHUNG (HGF Limited), Judge RONNY THOMAS (UPC Düsseldorf Local Division), and BEN QUARMBY (Hexagon Advocates). They will discuss the existing state of the law and developments in claim construction in the US, at the EPO (looking at the G1/24 and G1/25 decisions) and at the UPC. Additional program topics include information sharing; AI Toos for IP professionals; updates from recent EU IP files; and doctrine of equivalents, waiver and estoppel. Visit the conference website for more information or to register.