The America Invents Act, Trends in IP Law and Emerging Technologies Among Hot Topics at ABA Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2012 — How will the America Invents Act impact patent law? What are some of the hot topics in the copyright field?  What effects do trademarks and social media have on each other? These questions and others will be the focus of the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law Conference, March 28-30 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.

The meeting will bring together judges, in-house counsel, academics and private practitioners to discuss intellectual property issues ranging from online piracy to Internet-related law for emerging technologies.

Panels will include representatives from the Patent and Trademark Office, the Copyright Office and the Food and Drug Administration; and executives from Google, Rosetta Stone, Macy’s Inc., and other companies.

David J. Kappos, undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the Patent and Trademark Office, will give keynote remarks at noon on March 29.  Michelle Lee, deputy general counsel, and head of patents and patents strategy at Google Inc., will present the luncheon address at noon on March 30.

Conference highlight programs include:

“Understanding the America Invents Act – A Sweeping Change of U.S. Patent Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office” — Teresa Stanek Rea, deputy undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and deputy director of the Patent and Trademark Office, will discuss how the America Invents Act will impact different aspects of patent law, including patent litigation, patent prosecution and post-grant procedures.
March 29, 8:30 – 10 a.m.

“The America Invents Act – Dissection of the New Rules for Post-Grant Review and Inter Partes Review” — This session will explore the new set of proposed rules by the Patent Office supporting the statutory post-grant procedures of the America Invents Act.  Panelists include: Janet Gongola, patent reform coordinator, Patent and Trademark Office; David J. Kappos, undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the Patent and Trademark Office; and Michael Tierney, board of patent appeals and interference, Patent and Trademark Office.
March 29, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

“Oral Argument Before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board” — Trademark Trial and Appeal Board judges Albert J. Zervas, Marc A. Bergsman and Linda A. Kuczma will preside over the oral hearing in an actual case before the board, which would otherwise be resolved prior to trial and without an oral hearing .
March 29, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

“Fashion Protection – Will it Wear Well?” — A proposed Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Protection Act has been introduced as a bill that will either be essential or harmful for young designers and will provide many opportunities for young lawyers.  Speakers will present both sides of the issue, in addition to providing an international perspective on the effects of the bill.
March 29, 1:45 – 3:15 pm

“Crowdfunding/Crowdsourcing Inventors and the IP Challenge” — This panel will examine examples of crowdfunding successes and newer forms of intellectual property, such as open source software, open source hardware and open source design.
March 29, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

“Jack & Cola: Top 10 Intellectual Property Myths about Wine and Spirits” — Panelists will  provide an overview of some of the most commonly misunderstood and misapplied areas of intellectual property as they relate to wine, spirits, and beer producers and marketers. Speakers include: Sandra Chavez Bellew, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Department of the Treasury; and Amy Cotton, senior counsel of Trademarks, Office of Policy and External Affairs, Patent and Trademark Office.
March 29, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

“Trollings, Take Downs and Transfers: An Audiovisual Odyssey Through the World of Copyright, 2011 – 2012” — Panelists will discuss and examine a wide variety of topics pertaining to the copyright field, including copyright trolls, protectable expression, infringement in virtual worlds, cutting-edge Digital Millennium Copyright Act developments, standing, pre-emption, joint authorship, sovereign immunity and copyright defenses.
March 30, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

Other issues include:

• Trademark Use on Social Media Websites
• International Copyright Law
• Online Piracy
• Law Practice Management
• Document Preservation
• Internet-related Law for Emerging Technologies

The conference brochure provides a complete list of meeting programs and speakers.

There is no charge for media covering this event.  For media credentials and more information please contact Maria Gutierrez at 202-662-1091, Maria.Gutierrez@Americanbar.org.

The 25,000-member ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law provides the highest quality information, analysis and practice tools to intellectual property lawyers, and serves as the thoughtful source of information and commentary for policy makers as they consider legislation affecting the law and regulations in intellectual property matters. The section is respected and known as the premier resource for knowledge in this increasingly important and complex area of law.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

- 30 -