Bar Association of San Francisco

April 24, 2019: 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

In January of 2019, the USPTO issued new guidance memos that change how USPTO Examiners deal with subject matter eligibility rejections and “means-plus-function” claim interpretation. This panel will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these changes, how to optimize patent drafting and prosecution strategy around them, and the impact these changes may have to patent litigation moving forward.

Topics
• How significant is the change to subject matter eligibility under the January 2019 USPTO guidance?
• How does the change to subject matter eligibility impact patent drafting and prosecution strategy?
• Does the change to subject matter eligibility impact patent litigation, and if so, how?
• How significant is the change to “means-plus-function” claim interpretation under the January 2019 USPTO guidance?
• How does the change to “means-plus-function” claim interpretation impact patent drafting and prosecution strategy?
• Does the change to change to “means-plus-function” claim interpretation impact patent litigation, and if so, how?
• What is not changed by the January 2019 USPTO guidance with respect to subject matter eligibility and “means-plus-function” claim interpretation?

http://www.sfbar.org/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?id=B191410%2FB191410