American Conference
Institute (ACI) will be holding a conference on Foreign Patent Law &
Regulation for the U.S. Life Sciences Patent Practitioner from December 7-8,
2009 in New York, NY.  The
conference will allow attendees to:

• Develop a
strategic plan for deciding when and where to file life sciences patents
abroad;
• Prosecute and
file life sciences and pharmaceutical patents in emerging Asian markets;
• Navigate unique
issues that arise in the context of seeking supplementary protection
certificates (SPCs) and method of use/treatment claims in life sciences patents;
• Address cultural
idiosyncrasies and technical requirements in various jurisdictions when
developing international patent litigation strategy;
• Select and manage
a multi-jurisdictional patent litigation team;
• Seek damages and
pursue available remedies abroad — knowing what you can (and cannot get) and
where you can get it; and
• Assess the impact
of the EC Sector inquiry on global pharmaceutical patent life cycles.

In particular, ACI's
faculty will offer presentations on the following topics:

• Why now?  Understanding the importance of developing
a global strategy for a life sciences patent portfolio;
• Evaluating
advantages and limitations of foreign filing conventions and treaties;
• Foreign patent offices:
 Exploring filing and prosecution protocols;
• Filing and
prosecuting life sciences & pharmaceutical patents in emerging Asian markets;
• Guidelines for
evaluating standards of patentability and selecting the best jurisdictions in
which to file an international life sciences patent;
• Strategies for
successfully obtaining method of use/treatment claims;
• Navigating the
"ins" and "outs" of opposition practice in Europe and Asia;
• Supplementary
protection certificates (SPCs):  Strategies for successfully extending the patent term on a
life sciences invention;
• Balancing
competing antitrust and IP interests:  Assessing the impact of the EC Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry
on the exercise and defense of patent rights;
• Considerations
for U.S. life sciences companies when filing patent suits abroad and selecting
foreign litigation counsel;
• Successfully
seeking injunctive relief for a life sciences patent:  Strategies for the EU and Asia;
• Organizing and
managing a foreign patent litigation team and strategy;
• Understanding the
mechanics of conducting and seeking discovery in foreign jurisdictions;
• Obtaining,
calculating, and evaluating the scope of available damages abroad; and
• Caselaw update:  Emerging trends in foreign life sciences
patent litigation.

An additional
post-conference workshop entitled "Mastering the Interplay between Foreign
Patent Law and Regulatory Requirements for Life Sciences Companies in the EU
and Asia" will be offered from 9:00 am to noon on December 9, 2009.  During the workshop, ACI faculty will
provide a comprehensive overview of the basics of patent protection and
regulatory approval required for the commercial viability of life sciences
products in the EU and emerging Asian jurisdictions.

According to an ACI
release, the Foreign Patent Law & Regulation conference has been designed
to provide in-house patent and IP counsel within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical,
biotechnology, and medical device industries with a working knowledge of the
current status of patent law in key foreign jurisdictions, including the EU and
emerging Asian markets.  A leading
faculty comprised of experienced in-house counsel representing such
multi-national companies as Allergan, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline,
Medtronic, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Purdue Pharma, sanofi-aventis, Sanofi
Pasteur, and Schering-Plough, as well as patent prosecution attorneys and
litigation counsel from Australia, Belgium, China, India, Germany, Japan,
Korea, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom will provide attendees
with an in-depth overview of the unique issues that arise in the context of
both prosecution and litigation outside the U.S.

The agenda for the Foreign
Patent Law & Regulation conference can be found here.  A complete brochure for this
conference, including an agenda, list of speakers, and registration form can be
downloaded here.

The registration
fee for the conference is $2,195 (conference alone) or $2,795 (conference and
workshop).  Those registering on or
before October 2, 2009 will receive a $300 discount off the registration fee
and those registering on or before November 6, 2009 will receive a $200
discount off the registration fee. 
ACI will also provide a $200
discount off the standard price to all Patent Docs readers who reference the discount code "Patent
Docs" when registering.  Those
interested in registering for the conference can do so here,
by calling 1-888-224-2480, or by faxing a registration form to 1-877-927-1563.

Patent Docs is a media partner of ACI's Foreign Patent Law & Regulation
conference.