August 29, 2012
Patrick Ross or Eric Atkisson
(571) 272-8400 or patrick.ross@uspto.gov;
eric.atkisson@uspto.gov
Press Release, 12-54
USPTO Hosting Two Public Information Events on America Invents Act
Sept. 6 Roundtable on First-to-Invent Provision, Sept. 7 Webinar on Final and Proposed Rules
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will host two public events next week to provide information on and receive public input regarding the Office’s continuing implementation of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). The events are part of ongoing USPTO outreach efforts to gather public feedback on its continuing implementation of the AIA.
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director David Kappos will participate in both events, joined by several senior USPTO officials. An in-person roundtable addressing the upcoming shift to a first-inventor-to-file system will be held Thursday, Sept. 6, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Va. It is open to the public and will be webcast. A separate webinar will be held Sept. 7 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. to discuss all aspects of the AIA.
At the roundtable on Sept. 6, USPTO leaders will discuss proposed rules and examination guidelines to implement the first-inventor-to-file provision. The USPTO currently is seeking public comment on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for that implementation: http://www.uspto.gov/aia_implementation/first-inventor-to-file_proposed_rules.pdf. An agenda of the roundtable and instructions for accessing the webcast are available at http://www.uspto.gov/aia_implementation/120906-fitf-rountable-agenda.pdf.
The webinar on Sept. 7 is the third in a series since passage of the AIA. Participants will include USPTO Director David Kappos, Commissioner for Patents Peggy Focarino, General Counsel Bernard Knight, Chief Judge James Smith, and Lead Judge Michael Tierney. Chief Communications Officer Todd Elmer will moderate.
WHAT: USPTO First-Inventor-to-File Roundtable
WHEN: Sept. 6, 2012 at 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. EDT
WHO: USPTO Director David Kappos, Senior Patent Counsel Robert Bahr
WHERE: Madison Auditorium on the concourse level of the Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314
WEBEX: Event number: 997 151 983
Event password: 123456
Event address for attendees: https://uspto-events.webex.com/uspto-events/onstage/g.php?d=997151983&t=a
Teleconference (US/Canada): +1-408-600-3600
Access code: 997 151 983
WHAT: USPTO America Invents Act (AIA) Webinar
WHEN: Sept. 7, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. EDT
WHO: USPTO Director David Kappos, Commissioner for Patents Peggy Focarino, General Counsel Bernie Knight, Chief Judge James Smith, Lead Judge Michael Tierney, and Chief Communications Officer Todd Elmer.
WEBEX: Event number: 990 842 706
Event password: 123456
Event address for attendees: https://uspto-events.webex.com/uspto-events/onstage/g.php?d=990842706&t=a
Teleconference (US/Canada): +1-408-600-3600
Access code: 990 842 706
The AIA, signed into law by President Obama in September 2011, is the most significant reform to the U.S. patent system in more than a century. It is speeding up the patent process so innovators and entrepreneurs can bring their new inventions to market even faster, thereby spurring innovation and competition, creating jobs, and growing the U.S. economy. Most of the rules the USPTO is implementing for the AIA go into effect Sept. 16, 2012.
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