Strafford CLE on Patent Licensing

Strafford CLE Teleconferences will be offering a telephone conference entitled: "Patent Licensing Post MedImmune: Proceed with Caution: Best Practices for Adapting to Sweeping Change in Licensing" on June 28, 2007 from 1:00-2:30 PM (EST).  In January, the Supreme Court rejected the Federal Circuit's long-standing "reasonable apprehension of suit" test in MedImmune v. Genentech, changing the legal landscape for patent licensing.  In late March, the Federal Circuit substantively applied the MedImmune decision for the first time in SanDisk v. STMicroelectronics, holding that a patent owner that asserts infringement against another entity to demand licensing and royalties cannot prevent the alleged infringer from then litigating the merits of these infringement assertions.

In the Strafford teleconference, speakers Allen E. Hoover of Banner & Witcoff, Michael J. Sacksteder of Fenwick & West, and Michael L. Kiklis of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld will examine the Federal Circuit's first application of the Supreme Court's decision in MedImmune, discuss the impact of this decision on patent holders and licensees, and outline the best practices for IP asset owners in view of these latest developments in patent licensing law.  The speakers will also address questions such as:

• What is the immediate impact of SanDisk for both patent holders and prospective licensees?
• What clues does SanDisk give patent owners and licensees on the continuing development of patent law in the wake of MedImmune?
• How does SanDisk alter how patent holders and licensees should approach patent licensing negotiations and agreements?
• What are the important considerations for pursuing infringement accusations and for filing declaratory judgments?

An interactive Q&A session will follow the speaker presentations.  The registration fee for this telephone conference ranges from $247 (for those registering before June 1) to $297 (for those registering after June 1).  A program outline for the teleconference can be obtained here.  Those interested in registering for the teleconference, can do so here, or by calling 800-926-7926 ext. 10.