Landmark changes in U.S. patent law threaten to stifle innovation. On September 16, the President signed the Leahy-Smith Act into law right in our backyard, at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria. The Administration's choice of this venue reflects a cruel irony toward the young future inventors in attendance there. This legislation transforms the entire process of obtaining patent protection from "first-to-invent" to a "first-to-file" system. Individual small inventors often do not have the resources to race to the patent office with every potentially patentable idea. When large companies do so, there will without a doubt be a flood of poorly prepared applications, adding to an already enormous backlog in the USPTO.

The National Capital Area Consultants Network and the Baltimore Consultants Network want you to know what has happened and how patent reform will affect you. Our panel of intellectual property professionals will explain how the landscape of entrepreneurship has changed and what the future holds. The event is open to the public, and student members are especially welcomed to participate.

Your admission ticket includes a complimentary lunch and admission to a networking reception. IEEE members can attend at a discounted price of $10, and IEEE student members will receive one guest admission as part of their $10 ticket price. IEEE discounted prices are only available by preregistration, which closes at 6pm on November 4. General admission is offered for $20 per person by preregistration and at the door. All registered attendees will be eligible for door prizes.

The NCACN welcomes IP experts Dr. Lee Hollaar and Dr. Amelia Morani who will present the current landscape of U.S. patent law and lead the workshop.  We are pleased to introduce Mr. Andrew Calderon and Mr. Andrew Wright of RMSC Law, who will moderate the discussion forum.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

NCACN and Baltimore CN wish to thank the panelists, moderators, and volunteers whose vision, hard work and dedication made the Patent Reform Town Hall Meeting possible.  We also express our appreciation to our outstanding vendors, Staples, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Party Depot, and Amazon, for their fast turnaround and amazing service.  We owe a debt of gratitude to the Montgomery College IEEE Student Branch and Dr. Uche Abanulo for designing and allowing us to use the "Innovation" logo.  Finally, Loyola University and the wonderful staff at the Columbia Graduate Center deserve a big round of applause and our deepest thanks for their gracious generosity in hosting this event.

WHERE

Loyola University Columbia, MD Graduate Campus
8890 McGaw Road Room 260
Columbia, MD 21045
(select image at left for directions)

WHEN

Saturday, November 5

10am - Panel session, lunch, and discussion
 2pm  -  Networking/dessert reception

COST