The Chief Judge
(right) will join our opening plenary panel, which also
includes Sherry Knowles, Jim Crowne, John Whealan and Matthew
Schruers. I’ll be moderating this session, and
with such knowledgeable and opinionated speakers
I’m sure my biggest challenge will be making sure
we keep to time.
The panellists have agreed to focus on the high hopes that
came with the America Invents Act, and the extent to which they
have come to fruition. I’m sure that will also
lead us on to talk about some of the pending cases at the
Federal Circuit and Supreme Court, other recent decisions as
well as litigation abuse concerns and the proposals designed to
address them. It should be a lively 45 minutes.
The US
Patent Forum could not be better timed, with
first-to-file coming into effect on the 16th and
a hearing on the
SHIELD Act taking place today. As well as the opening
panel, we have a keynote address from Teresa Stanek Rea and
panels on the AIA and NPEs, life sciences, lessons from Canada,
the ITC and patent monetisation.
But we have not overlooked the international dimension
either, with presentations from Jim Pooley of WIPO and
Camille-Remy Bogliolo of the EPO, and a panel on China.
The conference wraps up at 5.40, after which we will be
holding our annual North America Awards dinner recognising
outstanding achievements among US and Canadian companies and
firms.
If you would like to attend, there are still some spaces.
Attendance is free of charge for in-house counsel and those in
academia, but you must
register online. Registration includes the conference
materials and meals during the day, and CLE credits will be
available.
I look forward to seeing you there. In the meantime, if you
have any questions you’d like us to ask the Chief
Judge, let me know.