Boston Patent Law Association

Invented Here Nominations Deadline

Fri, 10 Sep 2010

The BPLA Board of Governors is proud to announce a collaboration between the Museum of Science (MoS) and the Boston Patent Law Association (BPLA): the jointly developed Invented Here! Program. The Invented Here! Program will rekindle the relationship the BPLA and the MoS enjoyed in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s with the Inventors Weekend Program.

The new Program, the Invented Here! Program, is planned to be an annual recognition event that honors New England’s newest and most innovative technologies. The honorees will advance a MoS mission of playing a leading role in transforming the nation’s relationship with science and technology and will advance the BPLA’s missions of Education, Service and Community. The innovative technologies are expected to shape the way people interact with each other and the world around them, fulfill important individual and/or social needs in novel ways, educate and inspire students both in the classroom and outside of school-time, or ensure a more sustainable future for our environment. More information about the program can be found in the Program Overview.

We are asking BPLA members to submit the names of inventors of technology that led to issued patents within the last five years and which were either developed here in New England or by an inventor who is a New England resident. Additional information about the nomination process can be found in the Nominations Form. Nominations are due by September 10, 2010 to the BPLA New Lawyers and Law Students Committee at newlawyers@bpla.org.

The submissions will be reviewed initially for selection by the BPLA New Lawyers and Law Students Committee and subsequently by a MoS Invented Here! Selection Committee. Selected inventions and their inventors will be recognized by the Invented Here! Program. These committees will select technologies that possess a “Wow!” factor and are presentable to an audience.

If you are interested in serving on the BPLA selection committee, please contact the Co-Chairs of the New Lawyers and Law Students Committee at the above email address.

We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your nominations!

In addition, the Invented Here! Program has sponsorships available at several different levels. If you think your organization would like to consider being a sponsor, please forward along this email to the appropriate person(s) within your organization. More information about the Invented Here! Program or sponsorships can be found in the Sponsorship Information or by contacting Liz Callanan, MoS Corporate Relations Manager, at 617-589-0236 or lcallanan@mos.org.

Best regards,

The BPLA Board of Governors

and the

Co-Chairs of the

BPLA New Lawyers and Law Students Committee

Aaron E. Connor

Rory Pheiffer

USPTO Road Show

Mon, 27 Sep 2010

The Boston Patent Law Foundation and the BPLA Biotechnology Committee

Invite You To Attend A

U.S.P.T.O. Road Show

Monday, September 27, 2010

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, New England Room

600 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear about the latest USPTO policy and practices in the biotech and pharmaceutical area. This is your chance to engage with and be informed by senior members of the examining corps.

Presentation Topics:

          Examination of Biological Sequence Claims

          Post KSR Case Law in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals

          Compact Prosecution/Interview Practice Programs

          Current Topics in Examination Practice in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Patents (Q & A Session)

8 - 9 a.m.              Continental breakfast/Registration

9 - 12 p.m.            Presentations

12 - 1 p.m.            Luncheon

1 - 2 p.m.              Q & A session

Cost: $100/$120 members/nonmembers

Lin Hymel, Event Coordinator

Leslie Meyer-Leon, Biotechnology Committee Co-Chair

Konstantin Linnik, Biotechnology Committee Co-Chair

USPTO Representatives for BPLF/USPTO Road Show, September 27, 2010

Remy Yucel

Remy Yucel is a Group Director in Technology Center 1600 whose subject matter area comprises biotechnology, biochemistry, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical patent applications. Ms. Yucel has been with United States Patent and Trademark Office since 1996 and was named Group Director in April 2008. Prior to becoming a Director, Ms. Yucel was an examiner, primary examiner and supervisory patent examiner in the biotechnological arts; with particular emphasis on gene regulation, gene therapy and transgenic organisms. Ms. Yucel has given presentations on a variety of topics associated with biotechnology patent prosecution. Ms. Yucel holds a B.S degree in biology and a B.A. in French Literature from Duke University, a Master’s degree in Plant Science from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Riverside. Her Ph.D. dissertation focused on host-pathogen interactions which also served as the basis for her post-doctoral training at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Research Center. In May 2006, Ms. Yucel graduated from The Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. From March 2007 to June 2008, Ms. Yucel served as intellectual property counsel to Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah. She provided both scientific and technical advice on various legislative initiatives involving intellectual property. Much of her time was spent on the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1145) of which Senator Hatch was lead Republican sponsor. Ms. Yucel also contributed to the Senate’s version of follow-on biologics legislation co-sponsored by Senators Hatch, Kennedy, Clinton and Enzi as well as to the Orphan Works bill passed by the Senate in 2008.

Jean C. Witz

Jean Witz joined the USPTO in 1988 as a Patent Examiner in biotechnology in Group 180 and examined a variety of applications covering subject matter as diverse as cosmetics to therapeutic treatments involving animal extracts, enzymes, and tissue and cell culture. In 2006, she was selected as the Appeals Specialist for Technology Center 1600, where she participated in all pre-appeal conferences as well as a large number of appeal conferences. In 2007, Ms. Witz became a Quality Assurance Specialist. In 2000, she was awarded a Bronze Medal for superior federal service, and in 2005, she was awarded an Exceptional Career Award for exceptional performance and service. Ms. Witz has also earned AIPLA recognition for outstanding contribution to the integrity of intellectual property law. In 2007, she was invited to speak at the Chemical Practice Committee of the AIPLA at the annual meeting held in October and in 2008 and again in 2010 participated in visits to intellectual property groups in Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego. Ms. Witz earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1981 and her Masters of Science degree in Biology in 1985, both from George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. She returned to George Washington University to earn her J.D. in 1994. Prior to coming to the PTO, she was a Study Coordinator for Hazleton Laboratories (now Covance) where she monitored toxicology studies and wrote reports for FDA submission. She also has over twenty-five years experience as an instructor at the university and college level and currently teaches Biology and Intellectual Property for the University of Maryland University College.

Member Networking and Cocktail Social

Thu, 30 Sep 2010

Please join us for a

Member Networking and Cocktail Social

Thursday, September 30, 2010

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Westin Waltham
70 3rd Avenue
Waltham, Massachusetts

Come network with your fellow BPLA members and enjoy the beautiful fall weather outside (weather dependent) on the terrace.

There will be a cash bar and passed hors d'oeuvres.

While there is no fee to attend, we ask that you please register in advance.

For questions, please contact activities@bpla.org.

Advanced PCT Seminar

Thu, 04 Nov 2010

This educational seminar is designed for patent attorneys, patent administrators, patent agents, patent paralegals, and others seeking an in-depth understanding of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Speakers

Carol Bidwell, Consultant on the PCT (Previously Supervisor of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)
Second Speaker TBD

Location

Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill

5 Blossom St.

Boston, MA 02114

(617) 742-7630

Please call the hotel directly to make your overnight reservations.

Price

$550 (Members) $700 (Non-Members)

Schedule of Events

Registration & Breakfast: 8 am - 8:45 am
Presentation: 8:45 am. - 10:15 am
Break: 10:15 am - 10:30 am
Presentation: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Lunch: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Presentation: 1:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Break: 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Presentation: 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

Summary

The seminar will focus on the PCT, including the following:

· Filing of an International Application

· Correction of Defects

· Recording of changes relating to the applicant, the agent or the inventor

· International search and written opinion by the International Searching Authority

· Filing of Amendments

· the International Bureau

· International publication of the international application

· International Preliminary Examination and the International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER)

· National phase requirements

Sponsored by the Activities and Public Relations Committee
Giordana M. Belenchia-Sauer, Nutter, McClennen, & Fish, Chair
Questions Contact: activities@bpla.org