AIA Roadshow

This schedule of events has completed. The Roadshow ran from September 16, 2014 through October 9, 2014.

2014 Fall Roadshow - First Inventor to File

The USPTO will be hosting seven roadshows across the country during September-October 2014 to increase the understanding of the First Inventor to File (FITF) provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA). In prosecuting patent applications according to the FITF provisions since March 16, 2013, the USPTO has recognized some complications in the administrative processes as well as a need for a better understanding of the FITF provisions. These roadshows endeavor to remedy these difficulties.

The public meetings will serve as an opportunity for USPTO subject matter experts and stakeholders to discuss the FITF provisions and updates since its implementation. At each roadshow, the USPTO will present an identical agenda that includes FITF statistics to date, the applicability of the FITF provisions on patent applications filed today, the FITF statutory framework and its exceptions, and AIA evidentiary declaration practice useful to invoke these exceptions. The experts will present a variety of example scenarios to illustrate both the applicability of the FITF provisions as well as tips for prosecuting applications filed under the FITF provisions.

The roadshow series will begin on the third anniversary of the signing of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. September 16 begins the series which runs through October 9, 2014 with events at USPTO Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia and at the Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Denver in addition to five other stops across the country. The roadshows in Alexandria on September 23 and Denver on October 2 will be webcast live through the USPTO website. See below for a complete list of venues as well as webcast access information for the Alexandria and Denver events.

The roadshow events are free and open to the public; pre-registration is not required but may be requested by the host organization. All seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. CLE credit is not available for any event. At the conclusion of the 2014 AIA FITF Fall Roadshow, copies of written materials and a video of the event will be posted here.

For inquiries, please contact:

• Kathleen Bragdon at kathleen.bragdon@uspto.gov or office phone (571) 272-0931 or
• Cassandra Spyrou at cassandra.spyrou@uspto.gov or office phone (571) 272-1624

2014 AIA FITF Fall Roadshow, September 16, 2014 - October 9, 2014

• Slideset [PDF]
• Video

Agenda (half day)

Introductory Remarks (10 min)
FITF - A Year Plus In Review (20 min)
* Review of examiner training
* Statistics to date
Will My Application Be Examined Under AIA (FITF) Or Not? (75 min)
* 1.55/1.78 statements
* The power of the ADS
* Have you checked your filing receipt?
* Scenarios
Break (15 min)
FITF Overview and Tips on Responding to Prior Art Rejections (60 min)
* 35 USC 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) - bases for rejections
* 35 USC 102(b)(1) and 102(b)(2) - exception provisions
* Scenarios
Effective Use of AIA (FITF) Evidentiary Declarations (50 min)
* 37 CFR 130(a) and 130(b)
* Scenarios
Tour of the AIA (FITF) Website and Q&A (10 min)

IMPORTANT GENERAL WEBCAST NOTE: Use of a Windows based system is required to participate in the webcast. Mac systems are not compatible with USPTO webcast.

Webcast Information for Tuesday, September 23 at USPTO Headquarters:

Topic: First Inventor To File (FITF) Roadshow
Host: Digital Multimedia5
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 1:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Event number: 643 625 972
Event password: 12345

Event address for attendees:
https://uspto-events2.webex.com/uspto-events2/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=643625972

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To join the teleconference only
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1. Provide your number when you join the event to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call one of the following numbers:
Dial In: 1-571-270-7000
2. Follow the instructions that you hear on the phone.
Your Cisco Unified MeetingPlace meeting ID: 643 625 972

Webcast Information for Thursday, October 2 at USPTO Rocky Mountain Regional Office:

Topic: First Inventor To File (FITF) Roadshow - Denver, CO
Host: Digital Multimedia5
Date and Time: Thursday, October 2, 2014 9:00 am, Mountain Daylight Time (11:00 am Eastern Daylight Time)
Event number: 649 219 415
Event password: 12345

Event address for attendees: https://uspto-events2.webex.com/uspto-events2/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=649219415

-------------------------------------------------------
To join the teleconference only
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Provide your number when you join the event to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call one of the following numbers:
Dial In: 1-571-270-7000
2. Follow the instructions that you hear on the phone.
Your Cisco Unified MeetingPlace meeting ID: 649 219 415

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2012 Fall Roadshow

The USPTO will be hosting eight roadshows during September 2012 to share information about new final rules implementing provisions of the America Invents Act that become effective on September 16, 2012. The final rules relate to provisions for inventor's oath/declaration, preissuance submissions, citation of patent owner statements, supplemental examination, inter partes review, post grant review, and covered business method review. The final rules will publish in the Federal Register by August 16, 2012.

The USPTO will kick off its roadshow series in Minneapolis and end in New York City with stops in Atlanta, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, and at its campus in Alexandria, Virginia. At these events, the USPTO will explain the final rules and answer audience questions. The agency also will discuss proposed rules for the first-inventor-to-file provision, which will be published in the Federal Register later this summer.

An agenda and directions for all events are available through the links in the table below. The roadshows are free and open to the public; pre-registration is not required. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. CLE credit is not available for any event. The agency will webcast the roadshows during the first week (from Minneapolis, Alexandria, and Los Angeles) and post videos of those events on the micro-site. Copies of the written materials will also be made available on the micro-site.

• Roadshow Highlights
• Roadshow Slides

• Reference Guide to Statutory Provisions and Final Rules Effective on September 16, 2012

• The Patent Review Processing System (PRPS) Video
• Event Agenda

2012 Spring Roadshow

The USPTO announces its complete AIA event schedule for February and March 2012. Events include seven AIA roadshows, two hearings for the Genetic Testing Study, and two PPAC fee setting hearings.

At the AIA roadshows, the USPTO will explain its proposed rules for various new provisions required under the AIA including supplemental examination, inter partes review, and post grant review. At the Genetic Testing Hearings, the USPTO will collect information from the public about ways to offer a second, confirmatory genetic test in situations where there is a gene patent and the patent is licensed to an entity that offers a first genetic test. At the Fee Setting Hearings, the PPAC will gather public feedback about the USPTO's proposed fee structure for patent services. The USPTO released its proposed patent fee schedule on Tuesday, February 7th, and it is available here or on the PPAC website.

Agendas and directions for all events are available through the links in the table below. Those who would like to give testimony at any of the hearings are welcome to do so by either pre-scheduling testimony or offering unscheduled testimony on the day of the hearing. Details for prescheduling testimony can be found in the Federal Register Notices about the hearings.

All events are free and open to the public; pre-registration is not required. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. CLE credit is not available for any event. Lastly, select AIA roadshows (Alexandria and Sunnyvale) and all hearings will be live webcast on the AIA micro-site. An AIA roadshow will also be recorded and made available on the AIA micro-site

* Webcast is available for these venues. Please see Event Agenda for details.
** Special events tram with "SPECIAL EVENTS" sign will run from 7:45am - 9:45am and 3:30pm - 5pm.