Obama's intellectual property chief steps down

The White House's intellectual property chief, Victoria Espinel, has stepped down from her role in the administration and is rumored to be one of the top candidates to lead BSA | The Software Alliance, according to industry sources.

Espinel served as the White House's first intellectual property enforcement officer, a position that was established in the 2008 Pro-IP Act. She was appointed by President Obama in September 2009 and confirmed by the Senate later that year. Espinel officially stepped down from her role at the White House on August 9, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Howard Shelanski, who serves as the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB, will step in for Espinel in the interim while the administration searches for a new intellectual property chief. He will head up both offices until a new IP chief is named.

[Aug 12]