New Reforms in Patent Law October 1, 2008

7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Registration & breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Workshop

Liz Howard, of Orrick, will present a summary of the latest developments from the Federal Circuit, and the Supreme Court, in patent law.

Included will be a discussion of case law relating to
- what constitutes inequitable conduct in obtaining patents,
- what constitutes willful infringement,
- when licensing "exhausts" your patent rights going forward,
- how courts are now evaluating "obviousness" of a patent in deciding patent validity,
- and the latest word on the question of patentable subject matter.

Dr. Howard will also discuss the potential impact of these trends on patent drafting strategies, as well as on licensing strategies. The session will also include ample opportunity for questions and answers from the audience.

Elizabeth Howard, an intellectual property partner in the Silicon Valley office, is co-chair of the firm's life sciences practice. She focuses her practice on patent infringement litigation, with an emphasis on the life sciences. Her practice also includes trade secret disputes and handling anti-counterfeiting matters in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to litigating in numerous federal district courts and California state courts, Dr. Howard has appeared before the U.S. PTO in interference proceedings, arbitrated before the International Chamber of Commerce. She is listed in PLC, life sciences: intellectual property. The following are some of her more notable engagements: Protiva Biotherapeutics, Inc.; Wilbur-Ellis Company; Dow AgroSciences LLC; Affymetrix; Oratec Interventions, Inc; Matrix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ; Nomai, S.A.; Shell Oil Co.
Dr. Howard also speaks and publishes regularly on intellectual property matters affecting the life sciences industry.
Before law school, Dr. Howard was an NSF Plant Molecular Biology Postdoctoral Fellow at the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry in Canberra, Australia and a Research Geneticist at UC Berkeley.

Regular price $20-40; Partners' Network $10-30; BioCenter Clients, Sponsors, Mentors, and Partners: Free.

Official Website: http://www.sjbiocenter.com/event/ev_2008Q4-NewReformsInPatentLaw.html