17th Annual Design Day
May 9, 2024 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Join us for an in-person or virtual day of lively and thought-provoking discussion about various aspects of design patents, hosted at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Get insights from USPTO design managers, design patent practitioners, and industrial designers. No CLE credit is offered for attendance.
Participate virtually or in-person on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 10:00am - 5:00pm EDT. There will be a networking opportunity from 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT, following the formal program.
The event will feature: updates from USPTO leadership and the Director of Technology Center 2900; targeted presentations on the new Design Practitioner Bar, the Supplemental GUI examination guidelines released in late 2023, and important design-related cases from district courts, the PTAB, and the Federal Circuit. The event will also include helpful presentations on changes and anticipated changes in global design law, as well as, tips and tricks for using the updated WIPO Design Database, the new Hague Application direct filing interface, and the USPTO Search Tool. Finally, we will hear an inspirational keynote from entrepreneur Joshua Thurmond, designer and inventor of the LavaBox, portable campfire.
Register for In-person Register for Virtual
Co-Sponsors:

News
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Letter in support for S. 1546, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act.
October 8, 2025
Arlington, VA. October 8, 2025 - The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted a letter in support for S. 1546, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act. -
AIPLA Comments on the UK IPO’s Standards Essential Patents Consultation
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Arlington, VA. October 7, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted comments to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) regarding its Standards Essential Patents (SEP) Consultation published in July 2025. AIPLA expressed support for the UK IPO’s goal of improving predictability and efficiency in SEP licensing but emphasized the need for a balanced approach that protects both SEP holders and implementers. -
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September 18, 2025
On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed John A. Squires as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. -
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Arlington, VA. September 5, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) AIPLA filed an amicus brief in support of neither party in Cox Communications, Inc. v Sony Music Entertainment, Supreme Court Case No. 24-171. -
AIPLA Comments on the OECD's Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT) Draft Voluntary Guidelines
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Arlington, VA. August 25, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted comments to the USPTO on the OECD’s Draft Voluntary Guidelines for Countering Illicit Trade in Counterfeit Goods on Online Marketplaces, highlighting best practices for governments, online marketplace operators, and rights holders.