The
Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office will be co-sponsoring the 20th Annual Conference on U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office Law and Practice (PTO Day) on December 7, 2009 in Washington,
D.C.

The
PTO Day program includes patent general sessions on the following topics:

•
Quality Initiatives and Measurement Compact Prosecution
•
Hidden Problems In PCT Cases
•
Discussion of Bilski post Supreme Court Argument
•
Discussion of 101 Examination Instructions

And
breakout sessions on the following topics:

•
Chemical/Biotech Patent Examining Practice (including Q&A)
•
Interferences & Board Update
•
Reexamination (Inter Parte/Ex Parte)
•
Patent Term Adjustment
•
Confidentiality and Candor In Practice Before The PTO
•
A Review of Recent Cautionary Tales

Director David Kappos will provide the luncheon address.  A copy of the draft program, including
a list of speakers, can be found here.

The
registration fee for the conference ranges from $225 (government/academic
registration) to $650 (general registration).  Those interested in registering can do so by contacting Mary
Lynch at mlynch@ipo.org or by calling 202-507-4500.