International Attorneys and Present Patent Law Survey Symposium
April 24, 2014
Adjunct Professor Randy Berholtz and five IP Fellows, have been conducting research to create a patent filing strategy guide for patent attorneys practicing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The ambitious honors research project includes a journal publication, a survey of attorneys on their current filing strategies, and a public symposium event with patent attorneys from many of the important and developing international jurisdictions for patents.
On April 11, 2014, the Research Team of IP Fellows held their symposium for patent attorneys and students to hear from patent examiners in key jurisdictions, international patent attorneys and representatives from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The all-day event drew attorneys from jurisdictions including India, South Africa, Europe, Brazil, Australia and China, as well as representatives from the European Patent Office (“EPO”) and the State Intellectual Property Office (“SIPO”) in China.
The Team presented the results of their survey, and hosted a series of panel discussions with international patent attorneys, answering questions about filing patents in their respective countries, as well as their own opinions on what to consider when conducting an international patent filing campaign.
The presentations focused on the factors attorneys’ use when deciding where to file, the countries they actually file in and their costs for filing internationally. Attorneys also participated in a panel discussing international harmonization agreements like the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) and the concept of a worldwide patent.
Professor Berholtz hopes to continue the discussion on the concept of a worldwide patent and engage a new group of students to work on a plan for further integration between the law school, its IP Fellowship program and the legal needs of entrepreneurs in San Diego and Southern California.
View the IP Symposium Brochure