Deborah Cohn has been with the US Patent and Trademark office since the
early 1980’s. She started off in the agency as a Trademark Examining Attorney.
She quickly moved up in the ranks throughout the years, first becoming a
Managing Attorney, then Group Director, then Deputy Commissioner of Trademarks
and eventually Commissioner of Trademarks. Her work within the agency can be
most focused around two things: her work in examining, granting and protecting
trademarks as well as her telework agenda that bolstered the cost-efficiency of
her office.
Trademarks
A trademark is a symbol, word, phrase, or any combination of those things
that distinguishes a good or service from everything else, giving it its own
individual character than can be universally recognized. With Deborah Cohn’s
position in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, she has handled
hundreds of cases pertaining to the examination, distribution, maintenance and
regulation of trademarks and the policies that implement them. Her extensive
work in intellectual property has been the driving influence in the progression
of her office as well as the grounds upon which many inventors and businesses
invest their confidence.
Telework
One of the biggest contributions Deborah Cohn made to the US Patent and
Trademark Office was her telework initiative. She started the program after she
became Deputy Commissioner of Trademarks for the agency. The initiative enabled
hundreds of worked in the office to complete their daily tasks from home, which
helped the office reduce its costs while also making life easier for her
workers. Her program was praised by many politicians and heads of federal
agencies.
