Former USPTO Official Has Called for Patent Reform
Patent holders and businesses should track legislative efforts to address perceived crises in the U.S. patent system.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Remote Work
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Coke Morgan Stewart, former USPTO official and current President of C4IP, has publicly advocated for structural patent reform. Her shift in roles marks a new push for legislative changes to how patents are managed and challenged.
Why it matters
Stewart argues the patent system is currently in crisis and that the USPTO lacks the institutional capacity to drive necessary legislative changes. This push for reform aims to alter the current landscape of patent challenges, impacting costs and legal strategy for innovators.
Approximately 80% of patents currently challenged at the PTAB have co-pending district court cases, highlighting a persistent source of procedural friction for businesses. This figure reflects the overlapping nature of patent litigation that reformers seek to address.
The players
Coke Morgan Stewart
The President and CEO of C4IP and a former USPTO official who is currently advocating for patent system reform.
USPTO
The federal agency responsible for granting patents and managing the administrative process for patent challenges.
C4IP
An organization focused on advocating for intellectual property rights and legislative reform.
Department of Justice
The federal executive department responsible for representing the government's legal interests in patent litigation.
The details
Stewart is advocating for legislative intervention to address what she characterizes as a crisis in the patent system. Her approach involves direct engagement with members of Congress to push for changes that the USPTO cannot enact on its own. The effort comes amid ongoing legal scrutiny, including a recent DOJ filing in Google v. VirtaMove regarding patent processes.
Timeline
Late July 2026: Coke Morgan Stewart resigned from the USPTO.
August 17, 2026: Stewart began her role as C4IP President and CEO.
September 11, 2026: The DOJ filed a brief in Google v. VirtaMove.
September 23-25, 2026: The Women's IP Forum took place.
September 24, 2026: Stewart addressed the Women's IP Forum.
Market Landscape
Recent legal activity, such as the Department of Justice's brief in Google v. VirtaMove, underscores the ongoing friction between district court proceedings and administrative patent challenges. Stewart’s pivot to private-sector advocacy signals a broader industry effort to resolve these jurisdictional conflicts through legislative change.
Business owners should monitor potential legislative shifts that could redefine how PTAB challenges are settled or aligned with district court cases. Consult with legal counsel regarding how current patent defense strategies may need adjustment if new federal regulations are passed.
The takeaway
The shift of high-level patent policy expertise into advocacy roles suggests that a more aggressive push for legislative reform is imminent. Business operators should keep a close eye on the legislative calendar for upcoming patent reform bills that could change the cost of patent protection.
Further reading
For more on the current climate for professional practices, see Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law.
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