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Putting Her Mark On Trademarks
by Randy Barrett
Lynne Beresford has been officially named commissioner of trademarks. She has been acting in the position since September.
As commissioner, Beresford oversees more than 300 examining attorneys, paralegals and other support workers. In 2004, the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) received 421,000 applications and granted 177,000 patents.
Patents are nothing new to Beresford, who earned her law degree from Rutgers University. She started her career as a patent attorney at PTO in 1979 and climbed the ranks over 26 years. Those positions have included managing attorney, trademark legal administrator, deputy commissioner for trademark examination policy, and acting deputy commissioner for trademark operations.
"Lynne Beresford has a track record of excellence and achievement, both as a manager and as a trademark expert," PTO Director Jon Dudas said in a statement. "The ... appointment ensures continuity of our successful trademark operations."
Earlier this month, the agency consolidated operations in a new headquarters building in Alexandria, Va.
Communicating Intelligence
Jamal Ware has been appointed communications director for the House Intelligence Committee. It is the first time the panel has designated a spokesman.
"Jamal is an experienced communicator, and he will serve a critical role in publicizing committee oversight and reform efforts," said Chairman Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich. "While much of the committee's work by necessity must remain secret, I am committed as chairman to ensuring America's citizens are as fully informed as possible about the work the committee is doing on their behalf."
Ware comes to Capitol Hill from a media relations post at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He holds a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University.
The Man Behind The Skype Hype
Christopher Libertelli, right-hand legal counsel to former FCC Chairman Michael Powell, has joined Skype, an Internet telephone company, as director of government and regulatory affairs.
Libertelli could hardly have gone more bleeding edge. Skype offers software that allows users to call each other on their computers for free. In an interview last year with Fortune magazine, Powell said the new technology would upend the telecommunications landscape.
"I knew it was over when I downloaded Skype," Powell said. "When the inventors of Kazaa are distributing for free a little program that you can use to talk to anybody else, and the quality is fantastic, and it's free, it's over. The world will change now inevitably."
In a statement, the company said, "Libertelli will represent Skype before North American government bodies and oversee initiatives to drive public policies that will grow and protect the use of innovative technologies."
William Donahue, meanwhile, has joined the board of Blue Ridge Networks based in Chantilly, Va. The company provides wireless network security services to the government and industry.
Donahue is a retired Air Force lieutenant general whose final posting was director of communication and information for the service. He is currently executive vice president of federal solutions for Sytel and serves on corporate and advisory boards for Fast Search & Transfer, Robbins-Gioia, and Tibco.
"There are very few individuals who can claim the depth and breadth of experience in securing military information systems," noted Tony Russo, CEO of Blue Ridge Networks.
ICANN Not Stand It Any More
Kieran Baker, the spokesman for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), is returning to the television journalism business after 18 months with the quasi-governmental group.
"It's been a transitional time for me but very enjoyable and a great challenge," Baker said. He is staying mum on where he will be working.
Also out the door is Paul Verhoef, head or ICANN's Brussels, Belgium, office. As of July 1, he assumed the leadership of the European global positioning system called Galileo.
"Paul Verhoef has made an invaluable contribution to ICANN and the Internet community, helping spearhead our European office and further internationalize our policy development support," ICANN President Paul Twomey said in a statement.
Elsewhere, Dell Senior Vice President Randall Mott has moved to Hewlett-Packard to direct the computer-making rival's information technology operations. Mott will be in charge of development, data management, technology infrastructure, data-center operations and telecommunications networks worldwide.
Yahoo China's Chief Says Bye-Bye
Zhou Hongyi, the president of Yahoo China, announced that he will resign Aug. 21.
The 35-year-old entrepreneur said he would rather build new companies than run them. "I'm not the professional-manager-type of person," Zhou told Bloomberg News. "I'm born to set up new companies. I'm satisfied with my performance at Yahoo."
Yahoo is the leading search engine in China, thanks to Zhou's work. "Yahoo is not short of capital or technological strength, but it needs someone to implement its localization strategy," he said. "I helped Yahoo grow bigger. My work is done."
Texas Instruments Chief Noted For Successes
The technology group AeA plans to present Texas Instruments Chairman Thomas Engibous with its Medal of Achievement Award.
The award is given annually to a person who has made "significant contributions to the advancement of the high-tech industry and for distinguished service to the community, the industry and humankind," AeA said. Past recipients of the award include: Andrew Grove and Gordon Moore of Intel; William Hewlett and David Packard of Hewlett-Packard; Ross Perot of Electronic Data Systems, who ran for president in 1992; and Thomas Watson of IBM.
Engibous joined Texas Instruments in 1976 and quickly climbed the ranks. He became CEO in 1996. Engibous will be the 51st recipient of the award, which will be presented at AeA's annual dinner Oct. 11 at The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas.
Quote of the Week
"Before the order, I had a full head of hair!"
-- The balding James Carroll of Qwest Communications International, referring to the FCC's order requiring Internet telephone providers to offer emergency 911 access by the end of November.
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