18th Annual Independent Inventors Conference, Oct. 11-12, 2013

Please note: Due to funding issues from the government shutdown, the 18th Annual Independent Inventors Conference will not be held at this time. The USPTO plans to reschedule the conference. See more at http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/events/Alexandria_Main.jsp .

Original message: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will hold the 18th Annual Independent Inventors Conference on October 11-12, 2013 at its headquarters in Alexandria, VA. Co-hosted by Sodexo®, the conference will provide inventors and innovators with education from intellectual property experts in their respective fields and practical advice from successful inventors.

Conference highlights will include presentations, workshops, and one-on-one advisory sessions conducted by senior USPTO officials and others who will inform and answer questions about patents and trademarks. There is a pre-conference workshop on October 10, 2013 from 5-7 p.m.

Keynote presenters include:

• Teresa Stanek Rea, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO
• Peggy Focarino, Commissioner for Patents, USPTO
• Lori Greiner, Inventor and entrepreneur, host of the QVC show “Clever and Unique Creations,” and cast member of ABC’s “Shark Tank”
• Woody Norris, Serial inventor of electronics, tools, and cutting-edge sonic equipment

Space is limited, so register early. Registration is now open. A registration fee of $90 per person includes all sessions and presentations, refreshments, lunch (Friday and Saturday) and a networking session on Friday evening. For additional information, visit www.uspto.gov/inventors/events/Alexandria_Main.jsp or 866-767-3848.

America Invents Act (AIA) 2nd Anniversary Forum

The USPTO is hosting a second anniversary forum on the America’s Invents Act (AIA)on September 16, 2013. The event will be live at the USPTO's Alexandria campus in the Madison Auditorium from 1 to 5 pm (noon to 4 pm Central time)and will be webcast at the same time. Webcast instructions are available below. USPTO subject matter experts from the Patents Business Unit and administrative patent judges from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) will discuss many AIA provisions, including current filing statistics and "do's and don'ts" as follows:

• Patent Panel: prioritized examination (aka Track One), preissuance submissions, inventor's oath/declaration, supplemental examination, and micro-entity discount
• First-inventor-to-file Workshop: demonstration of examiner hands-on training using a mock application for examination
• PTAB Panel Discussion: inter partes review and covered business method review

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during each segment.

Webcast Access Info:

• Event number: 991 788 621
• Event password: 123456
• Event address for attendees: https://uspto-events.webex.com/uspto-events/onstage/g.php?d=991788621&t=a

Teleconference information:

• Call-in toll number (US/Canada): 1-650-479-3208
• Access code: 991 788 621