If your travels bring you near Denver on February 16th, note that the PTO will be conducting a road show at The University of Denver, Sturm College of Law:
United States Patent and Trademark Road Show 2012
February 16, 2012
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
| Time | Event |
| 9:00 – 9:45 | REGISTRATION/NETWORKING BREAKFAST |
| 9:45 – 10:00 | WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS |
| 10:00 – 10:45 | PATENT REFORM 2012: UPDATE ON THE AMERICA INVENTS ACT Discussion by USPTO officials regarding the impact and implementation of the America Invents Act (AIA) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. |
| 10:50 – 12:00 | GETTING INTO THE ACT: THIRD PARTY PROCEDURES Moderated panel considering current and anticipated third party procedures, with an emphasis on the new post-grant review and opposition process introduced by the AIA and best practices in advising clients contemplating third party procedures |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | LUNCH BREAK |
| 12:30 – 1:55 | REEXAMINATION: FROM BASICS TO BEST PRACTICES Moderated panel considering the state of reexaminations before the USPTO, from both an administrative and litigation perspective, with an emphasis on prospective changes in view of the AIA. |
| 2:00 – 3:00 | BROADENING THE BASE: BEST PRACTICES IN REISSUES Discussion by USPTO officials regarding best practices before the USPTO related to patent reissues. |
| 3:10 – 4:25 | ON THE FAST TRACK: ACCELERATED PROCESSES DURING EXAMINATION Discussion by USPTO officials regarding accelerated patent prosecution processes, including traditional accelerated process, Track 1 examinations, pilot programs under the AIA, and the Patent Prosecution Highway. |
| 4:30 – 5:30 | STATE OF THE UNION: LEGAL UPDATE ON KSR AND BILKSI ISSUES Moderated panel considering the state of obviousness and subject matter patentability. |
| 5:30 – 6:30 | COCKTAIL RECEPTION |
Speakers include:
Remy Yucel. Remy Yucel is a Group Director in Technology Center 1600 whose subject matter area comprises biotechnology, biochemistry, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical patent applications. Ms. Yucel has been with United States Patent and Trademark Office since 1996 and was named Group Director in April 2008. She is also the Director of the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU). Ms. Yucel is the recipient of several Department of Commerce Awards including the Bronze Medal and the Performance Excellence Award. Prior to becoming a Director, Ms. Yucel was an examiner, primary examiner and supervisory patent examiner in the biotechnological arts; with particular emphasis on gene regulation, gene therapy and transgenic organisms.
Jean C. Witz. Jean Witz joined the USPTO in 1988 as a Patent Examiner and examined a variety of applications covering subject matter as diverse as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and therapeutic treatments. In 2000, she was awarded a Bronze Medal for superior federal service, and in 2005, she was awarded an Exceptional Career Award for exceptional performance and service. In 2001, Ms. Witz also earned AIPLA recognition for outstanding contribution to the integrity of intellectual property law.