2015 Chemical and Life Science Patent Law Update: Recent Developments in the United States and Europe

The past year has been busy for the patent landscape in both the United States and Europe. Stakeholders in the chemical and life science industries face increased challenges to both procure and maintain IP protection. Finnegan attorneys will discuss recent patent law developments in Europe and the United States that directly affect these industries. The speakers will guide you through the last year’s most significant decisions from the courts of the United States, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office. They will also provide practical advice, identifying how the decisions can act as useful tools, as well as guidance for avoiding pitfalls.

Some of the topics and decisions that will be covered during this seminar include: 

• Patent Prosecution Strategies 
  • Patentable Subject Matter in view of the USPTO’s Interim Guidance On Patent Subject Matter Eligibility 
  • EPO strategies in view of CJEU’s decision in International Stem Cell Corp. v. Comptroller General of Patents 
  • Product-by-Process Claims in the U.S., EPO and UK: G2/12, G2/13 and Hospira v. Genentech 
  • Double Patenting and Poisonous Divisionals: Gilead Sciences v. Natco Pharma and T0557/13 
  • EPO Procedure: Enlarged Board of Appeal decisions G1/11, G1/12, G1/13 and G3/14 
  • Update on the Unitary Patent and UPC: Prosecution strategies and considerations 
• Post-Grant Challenges 
  • Recent trends and statistics from the USPTO and EPO 
  • Impact of the new rule changes and PTAB decisions for USPTO post-grant proceedings 
  • UPC Revocation Actions: timeline, procedure, the law and coordination with EPO oppositions

Time:
12:00 - 13:00 - Registration and Lunch
13:00 - 16:00 - Program
16:00 - 17:00 - Reception

Location:
Hilton Copenhagen Airport
Ellehammersvej 20
Copenhagen, 2770, Denmark

Admission is free, but space is limited. Please register by 5 June.