Beresford Named Commissioner for U.S. Trademarks

On July 8, 2005, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez named Lynne G. Beresford to be Commissioner for Trademarks at the Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As Commissioner for Trademarks, Beresford is responsible for the productivity and quality of the work done by more than 300 examining attorneys, paralegals and other support professionals. She also oversees budget and trademark-related information technology (IT) decisions.

Beresford has been acting Commissioner for Trademarks since September 1, 2004. In response to the appointment, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas noted, “Lynne Beresford has a track-record of excellence and achievement, both as a manager and as a trademark expert. The Secretary’s appointment ensures continuity of our successful trademark operations.”

Beresford began her career at the USPTO in 1979 as a trademark examining attorney. She has held a variety of management positions throughout her career, including managing attorney, trademark legal administrator, deputy commissioner for trademark examination policy, and acting deputy commissioner for trademark operations. Beresford also served as a senior attorney in the USPTO’s Office of International Relations.

In 1989 Beresford managed the computer aspects of the implementation of the Trademark Law Revision Act of 1988. She chaired every meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Standing Committee on Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications from its inception in 1997 until late 2001 and was instrumental in drafting the legislation to implement the Madrid Protocol and the Trademark Law Treaty.