过去的中国专利局现在改叫国家知识产权局，但它却不管版权和商标。国家知识产权局算所谓的“国务院专利行政部门”，该局负责管理全国的专利工作；统一受理和审查专利申请，依法授予专利权。所以我猜测，中国知识产权局长是个部级干部。

相比之下，美国专利与商标局只是established as an agency of the United States, within the Department of Commerce(商业部). 骆家辉(Gary Faye Locke) 现在(10-29-2010)是商业部部长。The powers and duties of the United States Patent and Trademark Office shall be vested in an Under Secretary of Commerce (商业部副部长) for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, who shall be a citizen of the United States and who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 所以我猜测，美国专利与商标局局长只是个副部级干部。

结论: 中国专利局长的官位似乎比美国的大。