2015 U.S. and EU Patent Law Update for the Electrical and Mechanical Technology Fields

The past year has proven eventful for patent stakeholders in the electrical and mechanical industries. In the United States, both the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit have issued key decisions impacting U.S. patent rights in these technology areas. The USPTO has also instituted programs that, when used effectively, can be game changers for prosecuting patent applications before the electrical-mechanical examining groups. And the changes ushered in by the America Invents Act continue to impact current U.S. patent strategies. The patent landscape in Europe has also been busy as businesses prepare for the arrival of the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court (UPC).

• Patent Prosecution Strategies 
  • Patent eligibility in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Alice decision and the USPTO’s Dec. 2014 Guidelines 
  • Strategic use of USPTO pilot programs 
  • Claim drafting strategies in light of recent USPTO Guidelines and current EPO practice 
• Post-Grant Challenges 
  • Recent trends and statistics from the USPTO and EPO 
  • Impact of the new rules for U.S. post-grant proceedings 
• Litigation 
  • Important recent Supreme Court and Federal Circuit decisions impacting electrical-mechanical technologies 
  • Trends from 2015 Finnegan Global Patent Litigation Survey 
  • How the UPC may impact U.S. patent litigation? 
  • Low-cost litigation in the UK Intellectual Property Enterprise Court 
• Bonus Topic 
  • Navigating the U.S. and EPO standards for restrictions, unity of invention, and double-patenting 
  • Practice tips for maximizing claim coverage and responding to improper rejections

Time:
12:00 - 13:00 - Registration and Lunch
13:00 - 17:00 - Program
17:00 - 18:00 - Reception

Location:
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197
1012 EX Amsterdam Netherlands

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