Fitch Even Partner Featured Speaker On The Supreme Court's KSR Decision

Fitch Even Partner Presents Program On Mediation Strategies At AIPLA Annual Meeting

Fitch Even Partner Appointed As Chair Of AIPLA's IP Law Associations Committee

New Book Features Contributions By Two Fitch Even Partners

Fitch, Even Partner Presents Trade Secret Seminar

Fitch, Even Presents Patent Litigation Seminar In Finland

Fitch Even Partner Presents AIPLA Program On Trademark Dilution

Fitch Even Partners Present Trade Secret Seminar In China

November 16, 2007

Partner Steve Parmelee was a featured speaker in the two-day forum on intellectual property issues sponsored and arranged by the Center for Business Intelligence in Washington, DC on November 16, 2007. Mr. Parmelee explored in depth the holdings and implications of the Supreme Court's recent landmark decision on the issue of "obviousness" under the patent law in KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc. Mr. Parmelee discussed the historical perspective of the Supreme Court's rulings on the "obviousness" standard in patenting inventions and the particular patent involved in the KSR case. Mr. Parmelee also summarized the reactions to the KSR decision by patent attorneys, the Patent Office, and the federal courts.

The Center for Business Intelligence serves the pharmacological and medical devices industries with current and state-of-the-art information regarding various matters of business interest.

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October 19, 2007

Partner Phil Petti helped organize and also moderated a program titled "A Practicum on Mediation Training" at the October 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Intellectual Property Law Association in Washington, D.C. The program featured strategies for mediation clauses in contracts and licenses, mediation of disputes before litigation, early mediation before discovery in lawsuits, and mediation before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The speakers included the Chief Circuit Mediator from the Federal Circuit's Mediation Office, as well as leading private practioners with experience as mediators and participants in mediations.

The Annual Meeting is the AIPLA's largest meeting of the year. The AIPLA is the nation's largest bar association focusing on intellectual property law, with more than 17,000 members. Its members include owners and users of intellectual property, and lawyers in private and corporate practice, government service, and the academic community.

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October 18, 2007

Partner Phil Petti has been appointed to serve for a second year as Chair of The American Intellectual Property Law Association's IP Law Association Committee for 2007-2008. The IP Law Association Committee works with regional and local IP law associations across the United States to encourage sponsoring and promoting educational programs, IP law advocacy and information sharing.

Mr. Petti served as the Chair of the committee for 2006-2007 and Vice-Chair for 2005-2006. Mr. Petti also is active on AIPLA's Programs Committee and On-line Education Committee. The AIPLA is the nation's largest bar association focusing on intellectual property law, with more than 17,000 members. Its members includes owners and users of intellectual property, and lawyers in private and corporate practice, government service, and the academic community.

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August 8, 2007

Karl Fink and Steve Parmelee contributed two chapters of the recently published book Business Power - Creating New Wealth From IP Assets, which is the result of a collaborative effort of several members of the National Knowledge and Intellectual Property Management Taskforce. This book presents a series of essays that are framed and intended to assist and inform both the experienced and those who are new to the nuances of intellectual property as it relates to business strategies and value.

The chapter authored by Mr. Fink, entitled "Value-Added Litigation," addresses patent litigation decision making as a component of normal business strategy and explains how patent enforcement can dramatically strengthen and also protect a company's market position. Mr. Fink identifies several factors that are central to the development of effective enforcement strategies, while emphasizing that patent litigation is not a layman's game or something to be done on the cheap.

Mr. Parmelee's contribution, entitled "How to Turn White Space Dark for Fun and Profit," discusses the business benefits of a patent portfolio that leaves no "white space" (holes) in the protective blanket. It explains how white spaces represent a vulnerability and business threat which, if not repaired, can create disruptive patenting opportunities for competitors. This chapter goes on to provide instructions and tips on how to prepare for, conduct, and profit from white space patenting activities. Mr. Parmelee reveals a process, built over decades of experience, by which a proactive enterprise can successfully capitalize on white space inventing opportunities while avoiding the pitfalls that frequently frustrate such initiatives.

Other authors address topics such as the impact of intellectual property on corporate financial management, gaining competitive power through integrated intellectual property strategy, capturing the value of trade secrets, and defining brand and reputational value.

Business Power - Creating New Wealth From IP Assets is published by John Wiley & Sons and is available through various booksellers including Amazon and the Practicing Law Institute.

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June 14, 2007

Fitch Even Partner Joe Nabor lectured on trade secret law essentials to a group of Chicago area members of the Illinois State Bar Association. The lecture was a component of an ISBA program entitled What Every Lawyer Should Know About Intellectual Property. More than seventy-five lawyers were in attendance, and a lively discussion and question and answers session followed the program.

Mr. Nabor is a frequent speaker at ISBA sponsored events, and has presented on a variety of Intellectual Property topics in the organization's professional development programs. He will speak again as the Intellectual Property program is conducted in Bloomington, Illinois on June 28.

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May 17, 2007

Tim Maloney and Tim Levstik, each Partners in the firm's Litigation Practice Group, were invited speakers at a seminar held on May 15 in Helsinki, Finland. The seminar, which drew executives from many European food companies, addressed various intellectual property issues relating to the globalization of the food industry. Mr. Maloney and Mr. Levstik spoke regarding patent litigation procedures and strategies in the United States, the implementation of effective licensing programs, and the avoidance of patent rights of competitors. They were asked to participate in recognition of the firm's considerable experience handling patent litigation and licensing matters relating to food and beverage technologies.

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March 9, 2007

Joseph Nabor was a co-presenter of the AIPLA On-Line Program "Trademark Dilution: New Angles After The Trademark Dilution Revision Act Of 2006 And Why You Should Care." This program focused on the practical application of the recently revised Trademark Dilution Act, and alternatives to federal trademark dilution claims for those who do not qualify under the revised Act. The program was organized and presented by the AIPLA On-Line Programs Committee and simulcast through a dial-in number and over the internet. Mr. Nabor, a partner at Fitch Even, focuses in the areas of trademark, copyright and unfair competition law.

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January 5, 2007

Fitch Even is pleased to announce that Steve Schroer and Edward Clair will participate as invited guests in meetings with the China Intellectual Property Society in Najning, China. Mr. Schroer will present a seminar on January 12, 2007 regarding U.S. trade secret law to a group of lawyers and judges involved in exploring the enhancement of trade secret protection under Chinese law. Mr. Schroer, a partner at Fitch, Even, focuses exclusively on intellectual property litigation, and particularly in the trial of patent infringement and trade secret actions. Mr. Clair, also a partner of the firm, assists a number of international clients, including several Chinese companies, in a broad range of intellectual property matters. Fitch Even supports a significant international patent prosecution practice, with rapidly growing clientele in China and Korea.

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