Conference Details

Event Categories

Browse C5 Companies

C5 Group
www.C5groupinc.com

Canadian Institute
www.canadianinstitute.com

C5 (UK)
www.C5-online.com
ACI : 2012 : Patent Reform : Overview

The Comprehensive Guide to

Patent Reform

For Life Sciences Companies

Tuesday, January 31 to Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Flatotel, New York, NY

With the historic passing of The America Invents Act, H.R. 1249, the United States is now facing the most significant patent reform in more than 60 years. Patent reform is now a reality. The impact of such sweeping changes to the US patent system will be exceptionally significant for life sciences companies whose life blood is dependent on the value of their intellectual property and patents. 

With countless complicated nuances throughout the statute and the unknown implications of these provisions looming, patent practitioners have been left with a multitude of questions regarding the overwhelming potential ramifications of the AIA on their patent practices. One thing is clear – with so much at stake for life sciences companies, you must plan now for the changes both in effect already and on the horizon in order to protect and defend invaluable intellectual property.

Based on extensive research with industry experts, ACI has developed The Comprehensive Guide to PATENT REFORM For Life Sciences Companies as an advanced strategic meeting bringing together the industry thought leaders, including Teresa Stanek Rea and Janet Gongola from the USPTO and Former Commissioner for Patents, Robert L. Stoll, to analyze the practical impact of the complicated new law on your patent strategies. The expert faculty will discuss answers to the most pressing questions facing patent practitioners resulting from the AIA including:
 

•  What does “first  to  file”  actually  mean  under  the  AIA  requirements?  Which  system can you or should file under – the current first to invent or the new first  to  file  (or  both)?  And  how  do  you  avoid  first-to-file  bubble  filings  before  3/15/2013?
•  When  can  on-sale  and  public  use  activity  be  considered  prior  art?  Has  secret  §102(f)  prior  art  been  eliminated?
•  Do  you  need  to  include  best  mode  in  the  application  or  not  and  what  happens  if  you  don’t?  Is  best  mode  completely  toothless  now?  How  will  examiners  be  able  to  address  the  best  mode  issue?
•  What  will  be  required  in  the  PGR  process?  What  type  of  discovery?  Expert  witnesses?  How  do  the  estoppel  provisions  alter  your  analysis  of  whether  to  engage  in  the  PGR  system?
•  What  estoppel  provisions  are  associated  with  IPRs  and  how  are  these  different  from  the  inter  partes  reexamination  provisions?  When  do  you  file  a  3rd  party  parallel  IPR?
•  What  does  the  prohibition  to  patenting  human  organisms  actually  mean  for  the  life  sciences  industry?
•  What  qualifies  as  a  micro-entity  and  how  do  micro  entities  take  advantage  of  the  new  fee  reduction  provisions  available  to  them?  Do  you  need  to  file  an  IDS  with  prioritized  examination  applications?

Do    not    miss    this    opportunity    to    join    your    colleagues    in    an    advanced    think-tank    discussion regarding the practical impact of patent reform on the life sciences industries. As this event is sure to sell out, reserve your place today to ensure you are a part of the discussion and have the information that you need to navigate this radically different legal landscape by calling 888-224-2480, faxing your registration form to 877-927-1563    or    registering    on-line    at    www.americanconference.com/patentreform.