Agenda

Registration

The PTAB Today: An Overview of the Current PTAB Landscape*

The creation of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) forever changed patent enforcement proceedings in the United States. Join us as we kick off our fifth annual PTAB Masters taking a look at the current state of the PTAB Landscape. PTAB Chief Judge Scott Boalick, Vice-Chief Judge Michael Tierney, and Vice-Chief Judge Melissa Haapala will provide an overview of…

Scott R. Boalick

Hon. Melissa A. Haapala

Michael Tierney

Networking Break

PTAB Review: Recent Consequential Moments and Decisions

As we close out 2024 and move into 2025, this panel will review and analyze some of the most important PTAB “decisions” from the last year. In some cases, these decisions will be important rulings from either the PTAB or the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In other instances, some of the most important “decisions” from…

Scott McKeown

James Moore

Inge Osman

Networking Break

PREVAIL and the Future of PTAB Proceedings in a Trump PTO

? While there are diverse viewpoints on the PTAB, including on whether the tribunal should even continue to exist, it is difficult to argue with the proposition that the PTAB is not living up to its original purpose. The PTAB was sold to Members of Congress, and ultimately to the American people, as a faster, cheaper alternative to expensive patent…

Chris Israel

Hon. David Kappos

Hon. Paul R. Michel

Cocktail Reception

Please join us for beer, wine, cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres

Registration & Breakfast

Navigating Parallel Patent Challenges at the PTAB and in Federal Court

? Navigating parallel proceedings is fraught with risk. What you do say in one tribunal can and will be used—for better or for worse—in front of other tribunals. And what judges in one tribunal decide can and will be used by the parties in front of other tribunals. And what is the state of interplay between proceedings before district courts…

Cook Alciati

Andrew (Drew) Sommer

Todd Walters

Benjamin Weed

Networking Break

Patent Owner’s Perspective of the PTAB

? USPTO Director Kathi Vidal recently wrote on the Director’s Blog about how wonderful the PTAB has been, saying in part: “Since AIA proceedings began over a decade ago, almost 70% of challenged patents have been upheld at the PTAB.” Simply stated, Director Vidal is wrong. This mischaracterization is enabled by a belief that a settlement by the patent owner…

Chuck Hong

Louisa Salomon

DeAnn Smith

Lunch

Unforced PTAB Errors: Pitfalls Patent Owners Should Avoid

? A formidable challenge is presented to patent owners by the PTAB, where inter partes review (IPR) institution rates are about 67% and final written decisions find all challenged claims unpatentable up to 70% of the time. Weak arguments undermine a patent owner response in two ways. They can dilute and distract from strong merits arguments, and they can undermine…

Daniel Drolet

Richard Kim

Stephen T. Schreiner

Peter Sullivan

Networking Break

Petitioner’s Perspective: Tips for Winning at the PTAB

This panel will explore best practices for succeeding at the PTAB from the perspective of the petitioner, including tips on framing arguments, selecting and utilizing experts, preparing declarations and expert reports, and other key strategies. PLEASE NOTE: This panel will be off-the-record. Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Petitioners-Perspective

Jonathan Bowser

Tim Jezek

Dan Smith

Networking Break

Strategies for Winning on Institution at the PTAB

? Our panel of experts will share insights and practical tips for successfully navigating the institution phase of PTAB proceedings. We will cover key strategies for drafting persuasive petitions, patent owner responses, and the all important issues surrounding discretionary denials, including the future of NHK-Finitv. Whether you’re a petitioner or patent owner, this session will help you identify and execute…

Brent Babcock

Matthew Johnson

Nathan Sportel

Networking Break

IPWatchdog Unleashed: Live Audience Podcast Recording

On this episode of IPWatchdog Unleashed we speak with Scott McKeown, who is a shareholder at Wolf Greenfield. Scott leads the firm’s post grant patent practice, and he is the author of PatentsPostGrant.com, which provides inside views and news pertaining to the nation’s busiest patent court, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the United States Patent and Trademark…

Scott McKeown

Gene Quinn

Cocktail Reception

Please join us for beer, wine, cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres

Breakfast

After the PTAB: Winning at the Federal Circuit

? Winning and losing at the Federal Circuit can sometimes seem arbitrary, and panel dependent. Confounding matters for patent owners is the extremely deference standard of review the Federal Circuit uses when reviewing PTAB decisions, and the unfortunately common practice of the Federal Circuit issuing one-sentence affirmances of PTAB decisions under Rule 36. Still, there are many attorneys that have…

Tim Fink

Kevin McNish

Angela Oliver

Networking Break

A PTAB Judge’s Perspective

This panel will provide insights from Administrative Patent Judges at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. While patent attorneys may believe their approaches are best practices and highly persuasive, the real question is whether the PTAB Judges agree. What do the Judges consider most effective and convincing in written submissions and oral arguments? What do they find least helpful, and…

Hon. Michael Kim

Hon. Grace Karaffa Obermann

Lunch