AMC Registration is OPEN. Sponsorship Opportunities
Let the trumpets sound! AMC registration is OPEN. Here's the conference information link: http://www.napp.org/annual-meeting which also provides details for available sponsorship opportunities. Note that the sponsorship opportunities are very affordable, especially compared to similar conferences elsewhere. We really appreciate each of our sponsors and the conference really benefits, so share the opportunity with anybody you think might be interested. In fact, I mentioned it to the managing partner of my firm and he was enthused about it, so don't be shy!
The conference runs July 19-21, 2018, at the Alexandria USPTO (600 Dulany St) with a pre-conference workshop on July 18 at the Residence Inn in Old Town. Alex Pokot is still finalizing speakers, so let him know directly or via Brandi at [email protected] if you're interested in sharing your expertise on any of the suggested topics. NAPP's members come from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels, so these presentations are always educational. And since we're mostly all introverts, the networking is always relaxed and enjoyable.
The AMC committee is still debating about how much (and which parts) of the conference to webcast. The technology is certainly available, so this boils down to a policy decision. On one hand, we want to encourage everybody to attend in person, and on the other hand, we know that not everybody can spare the time and expense to be there. Hopefully I will have a more concrete answer for you all next month, but you should expect that only select sessions of the conference will be webcast.
As hotels in Alexandria can be pricey, I encourage everybody to plan ahead and do your research if you're trying to keep your costs down. There are affordable options and an excellent mass transit system to make those options more convenient. I'm sure there will be at least a couple of members organizing shared AirBnB opportunities as the date gets closer.
Board Elections
Our annual meeting is coming up in July, and with it our annual board elections. The terms of Jeff Wendt, David Stein, and Alex Pokot are expiring, and rumor has it that Jeff won't be running again this year. If you've got some ideas for improving the organization and you're interested in getting more involved, I encourage you to consider running. The election will be held on July 19. Only members who are current as of June 20, 2018, will be eligible to vote in the election. If you are interested in running, please complete your application by May 20, as NAPP will only circulate information of candidates who have completed their application by this deadline. (If you decide to run after this date, you will need to advertise your candidacy on your own.) The application link is here.
Forum Report
When I last reported, we were trying to fix the shortcomings of the memberclicks forum solution. Since then it has become clear that we were having to make too many compromises, so we ditched it. Mike Carey did a quick evaluation of our options (including Slack, Discord, Reddit, Google Groups, Memberclicks, and our current solution). We've chosen to pursue Invision, the service we had originally picked in August of last year. On the positive side, this time we're confident that it's the right choice. Our executive director Brandi Gerew is working with Invision to get our new forums set up. We should be able to do our beta testing this month and roll it out next month, I hope.
NAPP's Blog for Patent Practitioners
Hey! NAPP has a blog now. You should go to the website and read it, like right now. Here's the link: http://www.napp.org/napp-blog Go ahead and do it now. I'll wait here til you get back.
Obviously, we're still working out issues with formatting and presentation, but this is gonna be great! Ongoing contributions are needed, so keep sending in your original patent-practice blog submissions or topic suggestions to Priya Cloutier directly or via Brandi at [email protected] . If we publish your blog submission, you'll receive a $25 Amazon gift card. You can also drop suggestions into the "Idea Box" on our website.
NAPP logo policy
One of the things we'd like to encourage our members to do is brag about their NAPP memberships! With Jeff Wendt's help, we've put together a TM user agreement, which you can reach at the bottom of the pages on the website, via which you can secure permission to use the NAPP logo. (We're still doing a little cleanup on the logo graphic itself, but that should be done soon.) Submit the agreement, grab the logo, and display it proudly to all your colleagues and clients!! Your family and friends too! And acquaintances. And strangers on the street. Well, really, show it to everybody, cause it's awesome.
Amicus Briefs
Xhavin Sinha didn't waste any time getting the Gov't Affairs committee in high gear. NAPP's amicus brief for the Regeneron Pharma v Merus case (concerning whether litigation misconduct can be grounds for finding a patent unenforceable due to inequitable conduct) is well underway. The committee has declined to get involved in the Classen v Elan case (concerning whether the 35 USC 271(e)(1) exception to infringement should apply if only one claim limitation relies on information submitted to the FDA), but is excited about possibly submitting an amicus in the Google v Network-1 case (where the FedCir panel overturned a PTAB finding of validity with a new "broadest reasonable interpretation" construction unsupported by the spec). I get the feeling that the Gov't Affairs committee is doing great things for NAPP's reputation and may enhance our ability to influence government policy. If you're interested in participating, contact Xhavin directly or via Brandi at [email protected]
Mentoring Task Force
Gary Maze is heading up the mentoring task force, which is currently drafting recommendations for a NAPP mentoring program. The draft sets forth recommended requirements and procedures for running the mentorship program. If you're interested in getting involved, please contact me directly or via Brandi at [email protected] The task force hopes to submit their recommendations for board consideration in June.
Public Relations Committee
Mike Carey still has the PR committee humming along. NAPP itself is partaking in sponsorship opportunities at other IP events and 0conferences around the country to spread the word about NAPP! If you learn about any opportunities for NAPP to get more brand name recognition, be sure to let the committee know about them!
The regional meetups are still mostly aspirational, but we're making progress toward our goal of having 30 or so local groups that meet regularly. Meetups are happening now in Seattle, Oakland, Santa Clara, Simi Valley, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, and (I think) Chicago. If you're interested in organizing or participating in a meetup with other patent practitioners in your area, contact Mike directly or via Brandi at [email protected]. The committee is also continuing to send postcards to new names on the USPTO register, so please be kind if you run into newbies on the forums.
Benefits Committee
Carie Mager is recruiting volunteers for the Benefits committee. Potential projects include a NAPP jobs board, a curated information repository, a group benefits program, etc. While NAPP's top priorities currently lie with the forums and AMC, the organization's attention will shortly turn to the repository and other such projects. Please contact Carie directly or via Brandi at [email protected] if you're interested in getting involved.
Committee Chair Positions
We're still looking for a Legal Affairs committee chair to replace Jeff Wendt, so if you've got expertise in contract review, please contact Jeff directly or let Brandi know. Mavis Gallenson, our current Governance committee chair, is also looking for a replacement. If you're interested in getting our organization's policies and procedures organized (as I am), please contact Mavis directly or via Brandi. (If time allows, I will be getting involved in this committed myself.)
Welcome to NAPP!
We gained the following new members in April. If you know or encounter any of the following folks on the forums or at a local event, please be sure to welcome them to NAPP and let them know we’re glad to have them on board!
-Jennifer Bales of Lafayette, CO
-Erin Caldwell of Atlanta, GA
-Timothy Dell of Colchester, VT
-Troy Jefferson of Oakland, CA
-Mike Lee of San Diego, CA
-Vadim Rodin of Hammonton, NJ
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