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March 24, 2021

U.S. patent and copyright officials to speak at ABA intellectual property law conference

CHICAGO, March 24, 2021 — Top officials from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Copyright Office will be among key speakers at the  American Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section’s IPL Spring Virtual Meeting, and Conference (April 7-16).

The conference portion during the week of April 12-16 will provide five days and nearly 40 programs featuring the world’s expert speakers in intellectual property.

Key programming will include a keynote address by Scott Martin, deputy general counsel, EVP, Paramount Pictures, Los Angeles, on Tuesday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET, and three plenary sessions:

  • “How the Shift in Political Power May Impact IP Issues,” with speakers: Kim Jessum, associate general counsel, Chief IP Counsel U.S. and Secretary, Heraeus Inc., Yardley, Pennsylvania; David Jones, executive director, High Tech Innovators Alliance, Washington, D.C.; William Krovatin, senior vice president and assistant general counsel, Merck & Co., Inc., New York; Dan Lang, vice president, Intellectual Property, Cisco Systems, San Francisco; and Jennifer Yokoyama, vice president and deputy general counsel, IP Group and chief IP counsel, Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington.
    Monday, Noon-1:30 p.m. ET
  • “Patent Litigation in the District Court, ITC and Before the PTAB,” with  speakers Jacqueline Bonilla, deputy chief judge, Patent Trial and Appeal Board, USPTO, Alexandria, Virginia; Cameron Elliott, administrative law judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.; and Barbara M.G. Lynn, Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Northern District of Texas, Dallas.
    Wednesday, Noon-1:30 p.m. ET
  • “One-on-One Conversation with the register of copyrights and director of U.S. Copyright Office,” featuring Vivian S. Lee, principal counsel, Intellectual Property, corporate legal with The Walt Disney Company, Los Angeles; and Shira Perlmutter, register of copyrights and director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington, D.C. Thursday, 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET

Other program highlights include:

“Ask the Office: Hot Topics from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office” — Speaker Drew Hirshfeld, performing the functions and duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and director of the USPTO, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and Marylee Jenkins, partner, Arent Fox LLP, New York, will discuss USPTO patent initiatives for U.S. and foreign practice.
Monday, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET

“Copyright Office Speaks” — An expert panel, all from the U.S. Copyright Office, Washington, D.C., will discuss recent developments in U.S. copyright law and policy: Shira Perlmutter, register of copyrights and director of the U.S. Copyright Office; Robert Kasunic, associate register of copyrights and director of Registration Policy & Practice; Catherine Rowland, associate register of copyrights and director of Public Information and Education; Regan Smith, general counsel and associate register of copyrights; Maria Strong, associate register of copyrights and director of policy and international affairs.
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-noon ET

“Impact of Recent Trademark Decisions on Business Practices” — This panel will examine key trademark developments in 2020 and early 2021, including the Trademark Modernization Act, new USPTO fees and the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, 10-11:30 a.m. ET

“Antitrust-Intellectual Property Interface Developments in the New Administration” — A panel of experts, including Jennifer M. Dixton, U.S. Department of Justice, Chicago; Renata Hesse, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Washington, D.C.; Maureen Ohlhausen, Baker Botts LLP, Washington, D.C.; Noah J. Phillips, commissioner, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.; will discuss recent developments in antitrust law and policy that will impact the intellectual property practice.
Thursday, 2:30-4 p.m. ET

“Recent Developments at the International Trade Commission” — Recent trade secret decisions, the impact of the ITC on proceedings at the PTAB and the proposed rules at the ITC will be discussed by  Monisha Deka, International Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.; Mareesa Frederick, Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLC, Washington, D.C.; and S. Alex Lasher, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, Washington, D.C.

Friday, 10-11:30 a.m. ET

The complete schedule can be viewed online.

This event is open to members of the press. For media registration, contact Robert Robinson at [email protected].

The ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law (ABA-IPL) provides the highest quality information, analysis, and practice tools for intellectual property lawyers. ABA-IPL serves as the thoughtful source of information and commentary for policy makers as they consider legislation affecting the law and regulations in intellectual property matters. The section is respected and known as the premier resource for knowledge in this important and complex area of law.  

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