In an unexpected development, the Commerce Department has dismissed all members of the two advisory panels that provide guidance on patent and trademark issues to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The dismissal, ordered by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, affects the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC), totaling 18 members. These advisors were appointed during the current administration and were informed of their termination via email, a move that caught the panel members by surprise. The implications of this decision remain unclear as stakeholders assess the impact on policy and operations at the USPTO. For more on this story, visit Law.com.