Protecting Manufacturing Methods: Practical Tips for Manufacturers Using Patents and Trade Secrets in the Age of AIA

Manufacturers have long faced a dilemma when trying to protect some of their most valuable assets—the manufacturing methods behind their products. Method patents can be difficult to draft, license, and assert. But trade secrets offer limited protection absent misappropriation. Changing definitions of prior art under the America Invents Act (AIA), the rise of post-grant patent validity challenges at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and recent Supreme Court precedent regarding joint infringement make this calculus even more difficult.

This webinar explores the differences between patents and trade secrets, and suggests complementary strategies to implement for capturing, protecting, and enforcing proprietary rights in manufacturing methods. In particular, we will discuss:

• Recent trends in patent and trade secret enforcement
• Strategies for identifying commercially important aspects of manufacturing methods
• Practical considerations for choosing between trade secret and patent protection
• Optimizing patents and trade secrets for manufacturing methods

Moderator: 
Timothy P. McAnulty

Speakers: 
Jennifer H. Roscetti 
Jeffrey C. Totten

Date:
Thursday, November 13, 2014

Time:
1:00-2:00 pm EST