Over the past six years, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions—Bilski, Mayo, Myriad, and Alice—that have significantly impacted patent eligibility law and continue to generate substantial public debate. We are seeking input from the public on patent subject-matter eligibility through two roundtables Nov. 14 in Alexandria, Virginia, and Dec. 5 in Stanford, California.
This first roundtable will focus on soliciting stakeholder views on ways of improving the USPTO’s subject-matter eligibility guidance for patent examiners and how that guidance is being applied by examiners. Additional details about the roundtables are in a Federal Register Notice published Oct. 17, 2016.
Registration is free, on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants may attend the roundtable in person in Alexandria, Virginia, or participate via webcast at one of our four regional offices. Register to attend Roundtable 1.
Requests to speak: Those wishing to speak at the roundtable must submit an online registration no later than Oct. 26, 2016. Please indicate in the registration your interest in speaking at the event. Register to speak at Roundtable 1.
Register to Attend and/or Register to Speak
Written comments will be accepted on an ongoing basis. All comments should be sent to 2014_interim_guidance@uspto.gov.
Webcast: The roundtable will be available for viewing via live webcast.
Agenda: RT 1 Agenda
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Onsite Moderated Discussion
12:00 - 4:00 PM: Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: Roundtable 1 - Webcast
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Onsite Questions & Answers
Background information:
35 U.S.C. § 101 defines inventions eligible for patenting as “any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.” These classes of patent eligible subject matter have been narrowed by court opinions, which state that laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas are not eligible for patenting.For non-press inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Shaw 571-272-9300, or e-mail elizabeth.shaw2@uspto.gov.