Shilpi Jha serves as a policy and legal advisor on all aspects of intellectual property (IP) issues for India and other South Asian countries. She is the lead IP specialist for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. In this role, she is responsible for monitoring, consulting, advising, analyzing, and reporting on IP developments in these countries.
Ms. Jha began her career as a litigator and has worked with several prominent law firms, including Anand & Anand, Bhasin & Co., and Dua Associates. Prior to joining the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), she served as the IP lead at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), where she provided critical input to the Government of India on IP protection and enforcement policies. She also coordinated with national-level IP committees at CII. An accomplished speaker, Ms. Jha has delivered talks on IP policy issues at various forums.
Ms. Jha holds a B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. in Statistics from Hindu College, Delhi University, as well as an LL.B. from Delhi University. She also holds a certificate in data policy from the London School of Economics.
About the USPTO and the Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA)
Aside from the issuance of patents and registration of trademarks, the USPTO has a statutory mandate to advise the President and all federal agencies, through the Secretary of Commerce, on national and international intellectual IP policy issues, including IP protection in other countries. In addition, the USPTO is authorized by statute to provide guidance, conduct programs and studies, and interact with IP offices worldwide—and with international intergovernmental organizations—on matters involving IP.
The USPTO’s OPIA fulfills this mandate by leading negotiations on behalf of the United States at the World Intellectual Property Organization; advising the Administration on the negotiation and implementation of the IP provisions of international trade agreements; advising the Secretary of Commerce and the Administration on a full range of IP policy matters, including in the areas of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets; conducting empirical research on IP; and providing educational programs on the protection, use, and enforcement of IP.