Webinar on Appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP will be offering a live webinar on "Improving the Success of Appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board" on March 20, 2013 from 10:00 am to 11:15 am (CT).  MBHB attorney Blair Hughes will provide tools that will help attendees improve their appeal success by: (1) better evaluating the merits of appealing a final rejection; (2) better positioning patent applications for an appeal; and (3) drafting effective Appeal Briefs.  Topics to be covered include:

-- When is an application ripe for Appeal?

• The RCE vs. appeal debate
• Timing of the appeal

-- Readying applications for appeal

• Reducing appealable issues
• The rejection vs. objection dichotomy
• Getting evidence into the record for appeal

-- Notice of Appeal and Pre-Appeal Review

• Pre-Appeal Brief filing pros and cons
• Pre-Appeal statistics
• When to file a Pre-Appeal Brief

-- The Appeal Brief

• The Appeal Brief format
• Drafting hints
• Amending the application during briefing

-- The Examiner’s Answer and applicant’s Reply Brief

• Evaluating the examiner's Answer
• Drafting a forceful Reply Brief

-- The PTAB Decision

• Possible Outcomes
• Post appeal prosecution options

While there is no fee to participate, attendees must register in advance.  Those wishing to register can do so here.  CLE credit is pending for the states of California, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.