Green Technology Intellectual Property Summit

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

(Registration and Continental Breakfast at 8:15 am)

A Interactive Working Group Session: Integrating changes at the PTO into Green Technology Patent Prosecution

Jacqueline Stone
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patents
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (Alexandria, VA)

Matthew Prater
Patent Attorney
Schwegman, Lundberg, & Woessner, P.A. (Minneapolis, MN)

Government interest in promoting the patenting of green technologies has increased dramatically in recent years and various changes at the PTO reflect those efforts. What’s more, changes to 35 U.S.C. wrought by the America Invents Act (AIA) and the eventual issuance of regulations promulgated thereunder will further complicate a highly fluid area of patent prosecution, creating uncertainty at the same time clarity is needed in these emerging and extremely competitive industries. ACI’s faculty of PTO examiners will walk you through the changes to examination that have occurred thus far and what they mean for green patent prosecution in the future. You will not get this sort of one-on-one experience with PTO experts anywhere else. Stay on the cutting edge of green patent prosecution and obtain best practices on:

• Reviewing the PTO’s green patent accelerated examination program
  • Exploring the differences between accelerated examination procedure and standard examination
  • Examining the positive and negative aspects of the program
• Cataloging best practices for obtaining a patent as quickly and inexpensively as possible
  • Detailing AIA’s activation of Track 1 accelerate examination and the costs and benefits of this filing method
  • Utilizing the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) to rapidly attain patent protection
    • Studying the recent changes to the PPH
• Investigating the effects of a first-to-file regime on green technology patenting
• Analyzing the impact post-grant review proceedings will have on green technology patenting
  • Inoculating a patent from attack post-grant: what are some best practices?
• Considering the implications of best mode requirement changes
  • Will this have any impact on examiners’ methodologies?
• Assessing the effects of third party prior art submissions on patent examination
  • Determining the prior art impact of “disclosures” under the AIA

Friday, June 29, 2012 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

(Registration and Continental Breakfast at 8:30 am)

B The master class on effective methods for Protecting IP in the Biofuels Industry

David Kettner
Vice President of Legal Affairs
Virent, Inc. (Madison, WI)

Glen Belvis
Chief Intellectual Property Counsel
Foro Energy, Inc. (Littleton, CO)

Each industry in the green technology space has challenges specific to that sector, and the biofuels industry is no exception. In this exclusive Master Class, executives from successful biofuels companies will share best practices for protecting IP in the biofuels space. This three hour class allows for in-depth discussion of pressing issues facing counsel and executives in this sector, presents many opportunities for extended question and answer sessions, and gives you the chance to benchmark your IP practices against industry peers. Candid advice from experienced industry professionals can be hard to come by, and attending this class will help you gain the knowledge you need to get ahead in the highly competitive biofuels industry.

• Exploring IP issues specific to the biofuels industry
  • Where infringement typically occurs
  • How do patent holders combat infringement?
• Analyzing what a typical biofuel patent portfolio looks like
  • Investigating which patents are strong in such a portfolio
  • Identifying and improving on weak patents or claims
• Examining biofuel patent protection in foreign jurisdictions
  • Detailing the countries where feedstock is best produced in conjunction with the strongest IP rights
  • Devising methods to ensure IP protection in the face of weak patent enforcement
• Considering alternative IP protection methods
  • Utilizing trade secrets in lieu of patent protection
  • How to strategically use different methods of IP protection for related inventions and processes

12:00 Master Class Concludes

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