AIPLA CLE Webinar: USPTO Professional Responsibility with an Overview of Patent and PTAB Pro Bono Programs

The Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is responsible for registering attorneys and agents to practice before the USPTO, developing and administering the registration examination, investigating allegations of misconduct, and overseeing the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification and Patent Pro Bono programs. This webinar will provide an overview of core aspects of OED’s disciplinary enforcement functions, including an overview of various OED programs and initiatives that are relevant to legal ethics and practice before the USPTO and a discussion of select regulations governing the USPTO’s disciplinary process and statistics regarding recent disciplinary orders. A discussion of case law relevant to practice before the USPTO in patent and trademark matters with an emphasis on USPTO disciplinary decisions will also be discussed.

The USPTO will also present information on both the Patent Pro Bono Program and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Pro Bono Program. Staff from OED and PTAB will provide a brief overview of the Programs including their establishment and implementation. The presentation highlights the benefits of participation and the positive impacts each program has had on under-resourced independent inventors and small businesses, volunteer patent practitioners, and the USPTO.  

Presented by: Timothy Rooney, USPTO-OED, Brandy Zukanovich, USPTO-PTAB, and Olivia Scheuer, USPTO-OED 

This event is free to AIPLA members who are not requesting CLE. Standard webinar pricing applies to those requesting CLE. CLE is included for our All Access Pass holders and Corporate Subscribers.

Pricing below only applies to those requesting CLE

Special rate for AIPLA Solo Practitioner Members:  $65
Special rate for AIPLA Student Members:  $10

In response to Covid-19, AIPLA has put in-place a new process for Multiple Attendee Site registrations that allows each site registrant to participate in the webinar independently. Contact cle@aipla.org at least 3 business days prior to the live webinar for site registrations.

Registration includes:

• CLE certification/processing for applicable states.  Reference CLE Information below for complete details.  
• Webinar materials, including complete CLE processing information, accessible 24-48 hours before webinar date.

Cancellation Policy:

To get full refund, registrant must request refund five (5) days prior to live event. If less than five (5) days, registrant is transferred to product. 

System requirements: 

Webinar access is compatible with any Windows 7 or later computer, Android OS devices, or Apple/iOS devices.  Check system compatibility here.

Accessibility for hearing impaired:

AIPLA’s webinars are available and accessible to individuals who are hearing impaired. If anyone at your location would like to know more about accommodations, please contact cle@aipla.org. We ask that you let us know at least 7 business days out from the webinar, to ensure that we can identify and deploy the solution that best fits our registrants needs.

CLE INFORMATION 

CLE is approved with the following states:

• Alaska
• California
• Missouri
• New Jersey (Under New Jersey's Reciprocity Rule)
• New York (Under New York's Approved Jurisdiction Policy)
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Vermont

AIPLA has applied for CLE accreditation in the following states: 

CLE Restrictions: 

ATTENTION attorneys in Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah

These states mandate attorneys can only view a webinar independently at their own computer to receive CLE credit.  Multiple attendees prohibited.

ATTENTION attorneys in Alabama and Rhode Island

AIPLA does not submit courses for approval in Alabama or Rhode Island.  Attendees needing credit in these states may select the free, no CLE option to watch the webinar and use course materials and their certificate of attendance to request course approval directly from the State Bars. 

ATTENTION attorneys in Arizona

Arizona does not certify courses or providers. Arizona lawyers are required to independently review AZ's regulations and make their own determination that it qualifies for credit towards their MCLE requirements. MCLE Regulation 104(A) identifies the standards to apply.  AIPLA will email an attendance affidavit to registrants requesting AZ CLE credit after the webinar.

ATTENTION attorneys in New Hampshire

New Hampshire attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance according to NH Supreme Court Rule 53.  The New Hampshire Minimum Continuing Legal Education (NHMCLE) Board does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the NH Minimum CLE requirement.  AIPLA will email an attendance affidavit to registrants requesting NH CLE credit after the webinar.   

 Disclaimer:  AIPLA is a nonprofit national bar association.  The sole purpose of this CLE program is to provide educational and informational content.  AIPLA does not provide legal services or advice.  The opinions, views and other statements expressed by contributors to this CLE program are solely those of the contributors.  These opinions, views and statements of the contributors do not necessarily represent those of AIPLA and should not be construed as such.

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