Patent Challenge Committee

Askeladden formed the Patent Challenge Committee in 2016 to support its ongoing efforts to challenge poor-quality patents it believes are invalid through the Inter Partes Review (IPR) process at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  The Patent Challenge Committee will decide which poor-quality patents Askeladden should challenge and will be responsible for conducting IPR proceedings challenging the validity of those patents.

The members of the Patent Challenge Committee–all regarded as thought leaders with respect to the patent system—have decades of combined experience:

Judge Roderick McKelvie – Judge McKelvie served as a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Delaware from 1992-2002, where he presided over numerous patent cases. Subsequently, Judge McKelvie practiced law at Covington & Burling, where he continued to focus on patent-related matters. He also teaches a course on patent enforcement at the George Washington University Law School. In addition, Judge McKelvie contributed to the development of the Federal Judicial Center’s video for jurors titled An Introduction to the Patent System.  He has also worked to develop model jury instructions (District of Delaware and the National Model Patent Jury Instructions). Judge McKelvie holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Honorable Gerald Mossinghoff –  Mr. Mossinghoff served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks from 1982-1985. Mr. Mossinghoff also served several terms on the statutory Patent Public Advisory Committee which was established to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property about the operation of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In 2007, Mr. Mossinghoff was inducted into the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame. He is currently senior counsel at Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P. and teaches patent law at the George Washington University Law School. Mr. Mossinghoff holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from St. Louis University and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School.

Professor John Thomas – Professor Thomas is currently a professor at Georgetown Law where he teaches courses on patent law. In addition, Professor Thomas has served as a Visiting Scholar at the Congressional Research Service for the last ten years.  In 2011, Professor Thomas was named the inaugural Thomas Alva Edison Visiting Scholar at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Professor Thomas also clerked for Chief Judge Helen W. Nies of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  Professor Thomas has published several books relating to intellectual property law. Professor Thomas holds a B.S. in computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon, a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan, and an L.L.M from the George Washington University Law School.