Melissa F. Wasserman

Melissa F. Wasserman is the Charles Tilford McCormick Professor of Law at University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Her research focuses on the institutional design of innovation policy, with a particular emphasis on patent law and administrative law.

Precedent in Agency Adjudication
Opinion | Process | Process | Process Jun 5, 2023

Precedent in Agency Adjudication

, , and

Agencies should use ACUS’s recommendation to develop transparent approaches to precedent.

Headless Agency Adjudication at the Patent Office
Opinion | Process | Process May 1, 2018

Headless Agency Adjudication at the Patent Office

and

Supreme Court approval of patent adjudication raises new questions about limits of modern agency adjudication.

Improving Patent Quality by Reducing the Patent Office’s Backlog of Applications
Opinion | Process | Process | Process | Technology Apr 13, 2015

Improving Patent Quality by Reducing the Patent Office’s Backlog of Applications

and

Improving the patent system depends on reducing processing snarls.

Chevron Deference for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Opinion | Business | Business | Process | Technology Apr 14, 2014

Chevron Deference for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Asymmetrical deference to PTO decision-making may promote pro-patent policies.

Evaluating the PTO’s Proposed Fee Structure
Opinion | Business | Business | Business | Technology Sep 10, 2012

Evaluating the PTO’s Proposed Fee Structure

and

Proposed fee structure remains flawed and may contribute to the perception of a “broken” patent system.