John Squires to Assume Role as USPTO Director: A New Chapter Amid Patent Reforms and Controversies
“USPTO sees leadership shift as John Squires takes over from Acting Director Stewart”
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is set to see significant leadership changes as John Squires steps into the role of Director. Squires’ confirmation comes after months of reforms led by Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart, who introduced patent-friendly policies and initiated key changes within the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Despite the optimism surrounding these reforms, the confirmation of Squires has also raised questions and concerns within the patent community, particularly regarding the direction of patent quality and potential fee frameworks based on patent valuation. This article delves into the key developments leading to Squires’ appointment, the implications for the patent system, and the evolving discourse surrounding the USPTO under the second Trump Administration.
The Path to Squires’ Confirmation
On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Senate initiated a series of votes that paved the way for the final confirmation of John Squires as USPTO Director. Squires’ confirmation process was part of a broader effort by Senate Republicans to streamline the confirmation of President Trump’s nominees, exercising the so-called “nuclear option” to expedite the process. Along with 47 other Trump Administration nominees, Squires’ appointment marks a pivotal moment for the USPTO, which has undergone various reforms in the preceding months under Acting Director Stewart.
Squires’ nomination, made official in March 2025, was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Industry experts, including Gene Quinn, founder and CEO of IPWatchdog, highlighted the early timing of Squires’ nomination—typically, USPTO Directors are confirmed after the first year of a new presidential administration. The timing underscores the Trump administration’s focus on ensuring continuity and aggressive reforms within the office.
Squires’ Approach to Patent Quality: A Pro-Patent Stance Amid Concerns
Squires is generally regarded as a pro-patent and pro-innovation figure. However, his nomination has not been without controversy. Throughout his confirmation hearing, Squires emphasized the high error rate in patent issuance, as evidenced by the significant number of claims cancelled through inter partes review (IPR) at the PTAB. Squires pointed to the 68% rate of patents found defective during IPR proceedings as an indicator of the urgent need for reforms to improve patent quality.
While his remarks were framed within the context of enhancing patent quality, some members of the inventor community expressed concern. The suggestion that the USPTO must focus on patent quality from the outset led some to worry that this could result in more stringent standards that could harm innovation or create additional hurdles for patent applicants. In his written responses to the Judiciary Committee following the May confirmation hearing, Squires clarified that PTAB statistics represent only a subset of patents and do not provide an accurate measure of overall patent examination quality at the USPTO’s front end.
The Role of Acting Director Stewart and PTAB Reforms
Prior to Squires’ official appointment, Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart had taken significant steps to reshape the operations of the USPTO and its Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). After her appointment as Acting Director in January 2025, Stewart implemented reforms aimed at managing the PTAB workload more effectively. One of her most notable actions was introducing an interim process for PTAB discretionary denials, granting patent owners the ability to request a denial of IPR petitions under her authority. Stewart’s decisions were characterized by a focus on the “settled expectations” of patent owners, particularly in cases where patents had been in force for six or more years.
Stewart’s efforts to manage the PTAB backlog and her stance on discretionary denials have been largely welcomed by patent owners, who have viewed her approach as more balanced and predictable. At the same time, Stewart has faced criticism from some quarters of the patent community. A former deputy counsel for the USPTO accused her of pursuing an “aggressive” and “probably unlawful” patent-maximalist agenda. Stewart, in turn, defended her actions, citing the need to address the PTAB backlog and the challenges posed by the evolving nature of proceedings under the America Invents Act (AIA).
Alignment Between Squires, Stewart, and Commerce Secretary Lutnick
Squires’ nomination and the subsequent leadership of the USPTO are viewed as part of a broader strategy aligned with the views of Acting Director Stewart and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. This alignment is expected to bring about a pro-patent, innovation-friendly atmosphere within the USPTO during the second Trump Administration. However, there are emerging concerns related to the potential implementation of a new fee structure for patents based on valuation, a concept that has been debated within the Commerce Department.
The debate over patent fees based on valuation has raised alarms among some stakeholders in the patent community. Critics argue that such a framework could create innovation-chilling effects, discourage patent filings and undermine the value of intellectual property in the marketplace. In addition, Secretary Lutnick’s recent threat to exercise Bayh-Dole march-in rights has sparked further controversy, particularly in the context of federal R&D funding and university patent licensing agreements. These issues add layers of complexity to the otherwise straightforward discussion about the future of the USPTO under Squires’ leadership.
Potential Implications for the Patent System Under Squires
Squires’ tenure as USPTO Director will undoubtedly shape the future of the U.S. patent system. His emphasis on improving patent quality, particularly through efforts to address the high error rate in patent issuance, reflects a commitment to strengthening the integrity of the patent process. However, the concerns raised by various sectors of the patent community—regarding patent fees, the scope of patent quality reforms, and the alignment between the USPTO and broader political interests—suggest that the coming years could be marked by significant debates and potential adjustments.
The balance between promoting innovation and ensuring robust patent protections will remain a key issue as Squires steps into his new role. Additionally, the potential for further reforms in PTAB proceedings, patent fee structures, and university patent policies could reshape the landscape of intellectual property in the United States, with far-reaching implications for patent owners, innovators, and the broader economy.
As John Squires officially steps into the role of USPTO Director, the patent community faces a period of transition and potential reform. Squires’ pro-patent stance, coupled with the reforms implemented by Acting Director Stewart, sets the stage for a more patent-friendly USPTO. However, the debates surrounding patent valuation, the PTAB, and federal patent policies indicate that the path forward will be fraught with challenges and opportunities. The direction Squires takes in navigating these complex issues will have a lasting impact on the future of U.S. intellectual property law, innovation, and the global competitiveness of American businesses.