Trademark Post-Registration Filing Deadline Reminders

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) plans to begin sending courtesy reminders of upcoming post-registration filing deadlines to registered owners who have provided a valid email address to the USPTO and authorized email communication. The courtesy remainders would begin in late January 2015.

For more information regarding the content of the reminders, eligibility for receipt and how to opt out of receiving them, please visit www.uspto.gov/trademarks/notices/reminder_maintenance_filings.jsp.

Share Your Expertise During Tech Week, Dec. 1-5, 2014

Scientists and technology experts, the USPTO is inviting you to share the latest advancements in your field with patent examiners. If you would like to be a guest lecturer (generally one hour) during the week of Dec. 1-5, 2014, sign up via the PETTP Webpage: www.uspto.gov/patents/pettp.jsp or send an email to Examiner_Technical_Training@uspto.gov. Lectures can be in person at the USPTO in Alexandria, Virginia, at the Denver or Detroit satellite office, or via a Webcast from your own location.

For more information and a link to the brochure pictured above visit the PETTP webpage.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board Roadshows

A notice from the USPTO:

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board is hosting Detroit Region Roadshows from November 5 to 19, 2014, focused on the AIA trials. The PTAB will visit Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee for half-day, afternoon programs. A detailed schedule and agenda appear below.

The roadshows are designed to be interactive, including audience participation in an educational game show as well as a hands-on workshop. For the workshop, the audience will work in teams to review and discuss a mock scenario in which a petitioner wishes to assert a challenge against a patent. The teams will discuss which type of petition to file and what issues might arise from both the petitioner's and patent owner's perspectives. Topics of discussion will include bars to filing, real party-in-interest and joinder considerations, and claim construction. The teams likewise will decide whether to institute, and if so, on what grounds and for which claims. Several PTAB judges will facilitate the workshop discussion with one assigned to each team. In Detroit, the PTAB will host an actual AIA Trial Hearing in lieu of the workshop.

The roadshows are free and open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The Board also is working toward making CLE available to attendees. For more information about the Detroit Region Roadshows, please visit the PTAB website http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/bpai/detroit_region_roadshows_2014.jsp

Schedule

Detroit, MI, Wednesday, November 5, 1 -5 p.m., Thomas Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills Campus, Room 145, 2630 Featherstone Rd., Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Chicago, IL, Friday, November 7, 1-4:30 p.m., Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Pritzker Auditorium, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605

Pittsburgh, PA, Thursday, November 13, 1-4:30 p.m., Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Auditorium/Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cleveland, OH, Friday, November 14, 1-4:30 p.m., Cleveland Public Library,  Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium (Lower Level), 525 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114

Minneapolis, MN, Monday, November 17, 1-4:30 p.m, Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MI 55401

Milwaukee, WI, Wednesday, November 19, 1-4:30 p.m, Milwaukee Public Library, Meeting Room 1, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233

Agendas are available from:http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/bpai/detroit_region_roadshows_2014.jsp