More Practical Advice for Overcoming Inventive Step Rejections at the EPO and the USPTO in the Chemical and Life Sciences Industries

Following on the inventive step vs. obviousness webinar from earlier this year, this seminar will focus specifically on the chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

The requirements for inventive step in Europe and non-obviousness in the United States have many similarities but also some subtle differences. In most cases, you might expect similar results, but in some cases, you can end up with very different and unexpected outcomes. With global patenting strategies, companies often struggle to ensure consistency when prosecuting applications to grant in both jurisdictions. In this seminar, we shall look closely at obviousness at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), inventive step at the European Patent Office (EPO), how they are both assessed and how objections can be overcome in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology areas. Our panel will explore:

• What works for combating objections at these patent offices
• Why what works at one may not necessarily work at the other
• Strategies that can work at both
• Additional approaches to consider in each jurisdiction

The panel will also discuss some of the techniques and strategies they have successfully implemented for patenting chemical and life sciences inventions, often in crowded art fields, including:

• The lead compound/product analysis
• Developing a cogent theory of lack of reasonable expectation of success
• The use of secondary considerations, such as: 
  • comparative testing establishing unexpectedly beneficial results 
  • long-felt but unresolved need 
  • commercial success
• Plus many other tips and practical advice

Admission is free, but space is limited. Please register by 12 September.

Moderator: 
Anthony C. Tridico, Ph.D.

Speakers: 
Bryan C. Diner
Erin M. Sommers, Ph.D.
Leythem A. Wall

Date:

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Time:

12:30 - 13:00 - Registration
13:00 - 16:00 - Program
16:00 - 17:00 - Reception

Location:

Finnegan
16 Old Bailey
London EC4M 7EG