{{Short description|Director of the US Patent office}} {{Infobox officeholder | name=David J. Kappos | image=David Kappos official photo.jpg | image_size = 200px | office=Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property<br/>Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office | term_start=August 13, 2009 | term_end=February 1, 2013 | president=Barack Obama | predecessor=Jon Dudas | successor=Teresa Stanek Rea (Acting) | birth_name= David James Kappos | birth_date= {{birth date and age|1961|3|3}}<ref name="wpost-bio">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/david-kappos/gIQAwVQeAP_topic.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311104136/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/david-kappos/gIQAwVQeAP_topic.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |title=David Kappos |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 15, 2013 |date=July 24, 2012}}</ref> | birth_place=Palos Verdes, California | death_date= | death_place= | spouse=Leslie Kappos<ref name="wpost-bio"/> | alma_mater=University of California, Davis (B.S.)<br>UC Berkeley School of Law (J.D.) }} '''David "Dave" James Kappos''' (born March 3, 1961) is an attorney and former government official who served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from 2009 to 2013. Kappos is currently a partner at New York law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Prior to being confirmed to the post by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009,<ref name="USPTO">USPTO web site, [http://www.uspto.gov/main/homepagenews/2009aug07.htm ''David Kappos Confirmed as Patent and Trademark Office Director''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811062908/http://www.uspto.gov/main/homepagenews/2009aug07.htm |date=2009-08-11 }}, August 7, 2009. Consulted on August 10, 2009.</ref> Kappos was the vice president and assistant general counsel, intellectual property law, for IBM Corporation.<ref name="white house">[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-More-Key-Administration-Posts-6-18-09/ ''President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts''], The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, June 18, 2009.</ref> Kappos announced his intent to step down from the position in late January 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Crouch|first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis Crouch |title=USPTO Director Kappos will Leave in January 2013|url=http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2012/11/uspto-director-kappos-will-leave-in-january-2013.html |date=26 November 2012 |publisher=PatentlyO |access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ip-watch.org/2012/11/26/uspto-director-kappos-to-depart-in-january/ |title=USPTO Director Kappos To Depart In January |author=William New |date=26 November 2012 |publisher=Intellectual Property Watch |access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref> His final day in office was February 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Eileen |title=Kappos: why he's leaving USPTO, and what's left to be done |url=http://www.managingip.com/Article/3147178/Managing-Trade-marks-Archive/Kappos-why-hes-leaving-USPTO-and-whats-left-to-be-done.html |access-date=January 28, 2013 |newspaper=Managing Intellectual Property |date=January 28, 2013}}</ref> He was succeeded by Teresa Stanek Rea as Acting Under Secretary and Acting Director.<ref>{{cite web|title=Teresa Stanek Rea: Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO |url=http://www.uspto.gov/about/bios/rea_bio.jsp |publisher=U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |access-date=February 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104195559/http://www.uspto.gov/about/bios/rea_bio.jsp |archive-date=November 4, 2013 }}</ref>

== Early life and education == Kappos was born March 3, 1961, in Palos Verdes, California.<ref name="wpost-bio" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Kappos, David James, 1961- |url=http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2011023321.html |access-date=February 16, 2013 |work=Library of Congress Name Authority File |publisher=U.S. Library of Congress}}</ref> He is the grandson of immigrants from Greece.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boliek |first=Brooks |title=Kappos: Patent system's reinventor |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/kappos-the-patent-systems-reinventor-071412 |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=POLITICO |date=13 January 2012 |language=en}}</ref> Kappos received his Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California-Davis<ref name="PLI" /> in 1983, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990.<ref name="wpost-bio" />

== Career ==

=== IBM career === He joined IBM in 1983 as a development engineer and has served in a variety of roles before taking his last position at IBM, including intellectual property law attorney in IBM's Storage Division and Litigation group, IP Law Counsel in IBM's Software Group, assistant general counsel for IBM Asia/Pacific, IBM Corporate Counsel and assistant general counsel.

[[File:David Kappos being sworn as USPTO Director (2009-08-13).jpg|thumb|275px|left|David Kappos (right) being sworn in as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, as Kappos's wife, Leslie, holds the Bible, August 13, 2009.]]

=== USPTO tenure === Kappos became Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director in August 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Falcone |first1=Michael |title=Critics raise concerns at Commerce |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/11/critics-raise-concerns-at-commerce-029002 |access-date=29 September 2020 |publisher=Politico |date=November 2, 2009}}</ref> In this capacity, he was a chief negotiator in the passage and implementation of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act;<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of USPTO Director David Kappos Following House Passage of Leahy-Smith America Invents Act |url=https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/statement-uspto-director-david-kappos-following-house-passage-leahy-smith |publisher=USPTO |access-date=29 September 2020 |date=June 23, 2011 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920074232/https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/statement-uspto-director-david-kappos-following-house-passage-leahy-smith |url-status=dead }}</ref> signed into law by President Barack Obama in September 2011. The legislation represents the most significant legislative change to the U.S. patent system since the Patent Act of 1952.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Jim |title=The America Invents Act for Academic Scientists |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/america-invents-act-academic-scientists |access-date=29 September 2020 |publisher=Science magazine |date=February 3, 2012}}</ref>

During his tenure, the USPTO's backlog dropped from over 770,000 to under 668,500 between 2009 and 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boliek |first=Brooks |title=Kappos: Patent system's reinventor |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/kappos-the-patent-systems-reinventor-071412 |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=POLITICO |date=13 January 2012 |language=en}}</ref> In November 2012, it was reported that Kappos intended to retire from the role in 2013, and he left office on February 1, 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-11-26 |title=Head of the U.S. patent office to step down |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/patent-kappos-resign-idUSL1E8MQA8X20121126 |access-date=2022-03-16}}</ref>

=== Post-USPTO career === After leaving the USPTO, Kappos joined the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, where he advises clients on intellectual property matters relating to corporate mergers and acquisitions, litigation and fintech.<ref name="law360" /><ref>{{cite news | url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/cravath-hires-2nd-top-official-from-obama-administration/ | title=Cravath Hires a 2nd Official From Obama Administration | work=The New York Times | date=February 6, 2013 | access-date=February 6, 2013 | author=Lattman, Peter}}</ref> He is also an adjunct professor of copyright litigation at Columbia Law School, and of legal advising for start up general counsel at Cornell Law School.<ref name="PLI">{{cite web |title=David J. Kappos |url=https://www.pli.edu/faculty/david-j.-kappos-6136|publisher=Practicing Law institute |access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref>

== Recognition == In 2016, he was named one of the “Top 25 Icons of IP” by Law360.<ref name=law360>{{cite web |title=The Top 25 Icons Of IP |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/748089/the-top-25-icons-of-ip |website=Law360 |publisher=LexisNexis |access-date=5 October 2020 |date=28 January 2016}}</ref> In 2014, he was listed as one of ''The National Law Journal'''s inaugural “Top 50 Intellectual Property Trailblazers & Pioneers”.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 JMLS IP Conference Faculty - Dave Kappos |url=https://www.ipwatchdog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Detailed-Speaker-Bio-and-Information-IPWatchdog.pdf |website=ipwatchdog.com |publisher=IP Watchdog |access-date=5 October 2020 |page=56}}</ref> Kappos was inducted into the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame by ''Intellectual Asset Management'' magazine in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dave Kappos |url=https://www.iphalloffame.com/david_kappos/ |website=iphalloffame.com |publisher=Intellectual Property Hall of Fame |access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> He serves on the boards of directors of the Partnership for Public Service, the Center for Global Enterprise and the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation. Kappos is also the chair of the Advisory Council of the Naples Roundtable and the chair of the U.S.-China IP Cooperation Dialogue.<ref name=PLI/>

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading and listening == * Rick Merritt, [http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4083575/IBM-exec-picked-to-head-patent-office ''IBM exec picked to head patent office''], EE Times, June 18, 2009. * Dennis Crouch, [http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2009/06/david-kappos-next-uspto-director.html ''David Kappos: Next USPTO Director''], Patently-O blog, June 18, 2009. * [http://portal.northcarolina.edu/ipcip/apps/synposium_registration/bio.php?user_id=64 Mr. David Kappos, Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511170203/http://portal.northcarolina.edu/ipcip/apps/synposium_registration/bio.php?user_id=64 |date=2008-05-11 }} (UNC Symposium for Intellectual Property, Creativity, and the Innovation Process) * William New, [http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/07/29/uspto-nominee-kappos-appears-to-clear-first-senate-hurdle/ ''USPTO Nominee Kappos Appears To Clear First Senate Hurdle''], Intellectual Property Watch, 29 July 2009 * United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, [http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da14e13b3 Hearing of David J. Kappos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104211/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=e655f9e2809e5476862f735da14e13b3 |date=2013-02-17 }}, July 29, 2009. *{{cite journal |last=Kappos |first=David J. |author-link=David J. Kappos |author2=John R. Thomas |author2-link=John R. Thomas |author3=Randall J. Bluestone |year=2008 |title=A Technological Contribution Requirement for Patentable Subject Matter: Supreme Court Precedent and Policy |journal=Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=152&ndash;170 |url=http://www.law.northwestern.edu/journals/njtip/v6/n2/1/ |access-date=2010-10-07 |archive-date=2009-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216091157/http://www.law.northwestern.edu/journals/njtip/v6/n2/1/ |url-status=dead }} * Timothy B. Lee, [https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/11/us-patent-chief-to-software-patent-critics-give-it-a-rest-already/ US patent chief to software patent critics: "Give it a rest already"], ''Ars Technica'', Journalism, November 20, 2012

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.cravath.com/dkappos/ David J. Kappos] biography at Cravath, Swaine & Moore * {{cite web |title=Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - David J. Kappos |url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/111thCongressExecutiveNominations/CommerceUnderSecretary-DavidKappos.cfm |work=Executive Nominations |publisher=U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary |access-date=February 8, 2013 |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217083130/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/111thCongressExecutiveNominations/CommerceUnderSecretary-DavidKappos.cfm |url-status=dead }} David Kappos Senate confirmation proceedings. * {{cite web |title=Senate Hearing 111-695, Part 3 |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111shrg62345/html/CHRG-111shrg62345.htm |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |date=July 29, 2009 |access-date=February 8, 2013}} Transcript, David Kappos Senate confirmation hearing.

{{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{succession box|title=Head of the United States Patent and Trademark Office|before=Jon Dudas (''Acting since January 2009: John J. Doll'')|after= Teresa Stanek Rea<br/>(''Acting February 2013 - November 2013'') |years=July 29, 2009 - February 1, 2013}} {{s-end}}

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kappos, David J.}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Under secretaries of commerce for intellectual property Category:IBM employees Category:University of California, Davis alumni Category:UC Berkeley School of Law alumni Category:American patent attorneys Category:People from Palos Verdes, California Category:Cravath, Swaine & Moore people Category:American people of Greek descent