OWE’s John C. Baum was recently co-host of a roundtable at Golden Gate University’s Intellectual Property Law Center with US Commissioner for Trademarks Mary Boney Denison, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Judge Lorelei Ritchie, and Managing Attorney for Trademark Outreach Craig Morris, all from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) in Washington, D.C.
“The turnout and participation at the roundtable were tremendous,” said OWE’s Baum. “It was great bringing law students interested in trademark law from at least three different law schools into the discussion with seasoned trademark professionals from in-house IP departments and major trademark law firms. Commissioner Denison and Judge Ritchie provided valuable insights into rule changes and operational reorganizations being considered at the USPTO. We discussed how the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board anticipates its work will be affected by the US Supreme Court’s recent ruling in B&B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis, Inc., and participants were able to give direct feedback on what they would like to see the USPTO do going forward. It was a great opportuny for the local trademark law community to have a lively discussion with informed and receptive Trademark Office representatives.”
The event was sponsored by the USPTO and the International Trademark Association (“INTA”) and took place on Wednesday, October 14 at Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco. William Gallagher, Professor and Director of the IP Law Center at Golden Gate, co-hosted the event on the Golden Gate Law School campus.
The following information about the program, including a link to register, was provided by INTA in advance of the program.
INTA – USPTO ROUNDTABLE
Wednesday, October 14 – San Francisco, CA Breakfast: 9:00 am Discussion: 9:30 am–11:30 am Meet with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Commissioner for Trademark Mary Boney Denison, TTAB Judge Lorelei Ritchie, and Managing Attorney for Trademark Outreach Craig Morris, at a breakfast roundtable discussion. The roundtable is designed to help the USPTO better understand the needs of those using its services and to offer insights into the USPTO operations. Topics to be covered will include:
- Recent developments at the USPTO.
- Customer suggestions for improvements.
- End-to-end electronic processing.
- Practice tips.
Note: This is not a forum to discuss individual cases. Roundtable Co-hosts John C. Baum, Counsel, Owen, Wickersham & Erickson, P.C. William Gallagher, Professor and Director of the IP Law Center at Golden Gate University School of Law Location Golden Gate University School of Law 536 Mission Street 6th Floor conference center San Francisco, CA Sponsors International Trademark Association United States Patent and Trademark Office Registration Information The roundtable will be limited to 25 attendees, and reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants are invited to send no more than two questions in advance to ensure there is sufficient time to address them during the roundtable. Please send your questions to craig.morris@uspto.gov by Wednesday, October 7, 2015.. CLE credits are not offered for roundtables. Register here! Registration Fee The registration fee is US $50 per person/per session and includes a buffet meal. The fee is nonrefundable upon confirmation of this registration by INTA. If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute. All registrations must be made no later than (5) days before the scheduled roundtable. All roundtable registrants must be pre-registered; there will be no onsite registrations. The only acceptable method of payment is by credit card.