Congress probes USPTO transparency
A senior House Democrat pressed the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office over opacity around the ‘Board of Peace,’ questioning who controls and profits from the entity — a reminder that political exposure can create sudden reputational risk for boards. The exchange underscores scrutiny on disclosure of beneficial ownership and funding linked to governance structures. (reuters.com)
Representative Jamie Raskin sent a formal letter to USPTO Director John A. Squires demanding records on who authorized the agency to file trademarks covering the “Board of Peace” name and logo. (usnews.com) The USPTO filed two intent‑to‑use trademark applications that identify the agency itself as the applicant and were signed and filed personally by Director John A. Squires: Serial No. 76720938 (filed Dec. 30, 2025) and Serial No. 76720939 (filed Jan. 21, 2026). (patentlyo.com) Both applications remain unexamined by USPTO examiners at this stage, and the agency’s public filings describe the applicant as an “Agency of the United States Government” holding stewardship of the marks. (usnews.com) Raskin’s letter characterizes the filings as potentially designed to conceal “legal and financial structures” to funnel money to the President, and highlights language in the Board’s charter that links permanent membership to $1 billion payments per state. (usnews.com) The Board of Peace’s public materials list more than two dozen founding states and its envoys engaged with Hamas representatives during a recent effort to safeguard the Gaza ceasefire, details noted in the oversight correspondence. (usnews.com) The House Judiciary Committee scheduled an oversight hearing on the USPTO for Wednesday, March 25, 2026, where members are expected to question agency practices around these trademark stewardship filings. (usnews.com) The USPTO currently holds seven active trademarks tied to its name and initiatives, a fact Raskin’s letter cites to underscore that agency ownership of nascent geopolitical‑brand marks is atypical. (usnews.com)
