In a recent interview with Managing Intellectual Property, partner Jarom Kesler offered insight into the impact of the recently concluded U.S. government shutdown on intellectual property law proceedings, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the International Trade Commission (ITC) and federal courts.
Kesler explained that, while the ITC was forced to halt operations during the shutdown, the USPTO and federal courts remained operational. The pause on ITC proceedings could be especially difficult to navigate, he maintained, given the fast-paced nature of the venue.
Kesler also shared that lawyers at the firm anticipated possible disruptions in the federal courts due to limited funding, and took a proactive approach to ensure clients were prepared for a potential shutdown of the courts—which ultimately did not happen. “We did advise clients that there might be some potential adverse effects on the district court,” he commented, “but we didn’t see anything. That’s a good lesson learned that the courts can continue longer than we initially expected.”
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