Charles Kim

Charles Kim served as the Deputy Commissioner for Patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he was recognized as "an authority on patent laws, rules, and examining practice and procedure." Drawing on more than 24 years of experience at the USPTO, including nearly two decades in various leadership roles, Charles brings clients valuable insight on how complex patent issues are evaluated and patent policy is developed across the agency. His experience in patent policy, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, international patent cooperation, and post-grant proceedings provides clients with a unique perspective as they navigate patent protection, particularly in rapidly evolving areas such as AI and emerging technologies.

Charles led the development of guidance for more than 8,000 patent examiners on a wide range of substantive and procedural patent issues, such as subject matter eligibility. He also oversaw the USPTO's international patent cooperation efforts, working closely with the IP5 (the world's five largest intellectual property offices). Additionally, he led the development of agencywide AI intellectual property policy initiatives, including Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions, Guidance Update on Patent Subject Matter Eligibility, and Guidance on Use of AI Tools before the USPTO.

Charles also represented the USPTO on the National Science and Technology Council Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee, where he advised on policy issues at the intersection of AI and patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Charles regularly advised the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, the Commissioner for Patents, and other senior agency officials on significant patent policy matters affecting innovators worldwide.