USPTO Director Squires Highlights Constitutional Roots of IP Protection at INTA 2026 in London

John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), addressed attendees at the 2026 International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting held in London. Opening his remarks, Director Squires expressed appreciation for the event’s organizers, including INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo and his team, praising their meticulous preparation and teamwork that contributed to the meeting’s success.

Director Squires noted the symbolic significance of the gathering taking place “just across the pond,” drawing a parallel to a recent visit by British Royalty—His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla—to the United States. He recalled the warm hospitality extended during their visit to the Shenandoah Valley, underscoring the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Quoting former President Donald J. Trump, Director Squires highlighted the powerful alliance forged by “American patriotism and British pride,” describing it as a testament to the lasting relationships built on freedom and opportunity.

The Director also marked the United States’ semiquincentennial celebration, referring to it humorously as “that’s a bloody good start,” while emphasizing the profound historical significance of the nation’s founding ideals. He reflected on the American Founders’ revolutionary concept that all individuals are endowed with inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Central to his address was the constitutional foundation of intellectual property (IP) rights. Director Squires drew attention to Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to secure for limited times “to Authors and Inventors the EXCLUSIVE Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” He noted that this clause represents the only explicit enumeration of a “right” within the Constitution’s main text, distinguishing IP rights as uniquely enshrined alongside other fundamental liberties protected in the Bill of Rights.

This constitutional mandate, he explained, establishes the USPTO as one of the oldest federal missions, predating even the Department of the Treasury and many other government institutions. The agency’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation is a cornerstone of the American experiment.

Director Squires recalled a milestone in U.S. patent history when, on June 19, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed U.S. Patent No. 10,000,000, symbolizing the continuous progress of American innovation since the nation’s founding.

Concluding his remarks, Director Squires reaffirmed that innovation remains central to America’s identity and exceptionalism, rooted in the constitutional protections that have supported inventors and authors for over two centuries.

The Director’s address at INTA 2026 thus served both as a celebration of transatlantic partnership and a reminder of the foundational legal principles that sustain intellectual property rights in the United States.