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USPTO Kicks Off Town Hall Meeting in Chicago February 1

Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at January 19, 2006 08:21 AM

USPTO Kicks Off Town Hall Meeting in Chicago February 1
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In an upcoming series of Town Hall Meetings, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will provide background information regarding proposed new rule changes. The first Town Hall Meeting will be held February 1, 2006, in Chicago, IL. The USPTO and Northwestern University will co-sponsor the event at the downtown campus of Northwestern University in the Arthur Rubloff Building, Thorne Auditorium. The meeting will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The proposed rule changes relate to the examination of claims, continuing applications, requests for continued examination and applications containing patentably indistinct claims. The changes will make the patent examination process more effective and efficient by reducing the amount of rework by the USPTO and the time it takes for the patent review process. In addition they will improve the quality of issued patents and ensure that the USPTO continues to promote innovation.

Commissioner for Patents John Doll and James Toupin, the agency’s general counsel, will provide an overview of the challenges the USPTO faces and the reasons why the proposed new rules are necessary. A question and answer session will follow immediately after their presentations.

Registration is free and CLE credit may be available.

The Town Hall Meetings are for patent attorneys, patent agents, independent inventors and members of the small business community.

For registration information, please go to http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/townhall.htm or call 571-272-8850.

Details regarding future Town Hall Meetings in California, Texas and Washington, D.C., will be posted on the USPTO Web site at a later date.

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