In their never-ending battle against Chinese and other international online infringers, some rightsowners have adopted an aggressive enforcement scheme that relies on sealed filings and ex parte TROs. Due to the fact that proceedings occur partially out of public purview, this enforcement scheme has been underdiscussed and has not received much critical scrutiny. This program will explain how the scheme works, document its prevalence, and show why it's likely an illegitimate enforcement practice.

Join us as our speakers discuss the recently issued USPTO examination guidance regarding patentability for artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted inventions. The guidance states that AI-assisted inventions are not “category unpatentable.” Instead, when a natural person provides a “significant contribution” to an invention, such an invention can be patentable even if an AI system contributed to the invention. While the guidance does not constitute law, it is grounded in law, i.e., the Federal Circuit’s so-called Pannu factors, which serve as a test for ensuring that a natural person contributed, at least in part, to the conception of the invention as required in the Federal Circuit’s Thaler decision on AI inventorship. The guidance also provides several useful guidelines and examples to help patent practitioners determine what constitutes a “significant contribution” for purposes of establishing natural person inventorship and, thus, patentability for AI-assisted inventions.

The Fourteenth Annual Trademark Boot Camp is a comprehensive online CLE program designed for new practitioners and others interested in learning the basics of trademark practice. Topics include; trademark clearance, pre-filing considerations, trademark prosecution, international trademark filing strategies, disputes, including trademark investigations, cease-and-desist campaigns, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) practice, and an introduction to trademark litigation.

Join us as we bring IP professionals together to learn and connect. More information coming soon! The 2024 Annual meeting will take place at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort. Leadership Meetings on Wednesday, October 23. Programming scheduled October 24-26.

The Leadership Journey - From Survival (Subsistence) to Self-Fulfillment (Abundance). This invitation-only two-day program will address building strong leadership skills for all levels of experience. More details coming soon.