Our final issue of Volume 47 of the BPLA newsletter focuses heavily on post-grant proceedings at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Two articles relate to amending claims in inter partes review, while a third article advocates for the use of more ex parte reexaminations for challenging patent claims. Another article provides insight on the impact of another recently-enacted legislation that relates to IP—the Defend Trade Secrets Act. We also have an update on a recent case that breathes new life into software patents. For matters closer-to-home, be sure to read about the BPLA’s amicus brief that was filed in the Apple v. Samsung case, the BPLA’s Invented Here! program, and three items that will be voted on at this year’s Annual Meeting: (1) the nominations for the BPLA Officers and Board of Governors for 2016-2017; (2) proposed membership by-law change to encourage more government employees to join and attend events; and (3) the minutes from the 2015 Annual Meeting. This year’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for December 7, 2016, at the Intercontinental Hotel. I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to work on and shape the BPLA newsletter over the course of the past year, and I hope our readers have found the content both informative and useful. I look forward to seeing many of you in about a month at the Annual Meeting, if not sooner.

Rory P. Pheiffer, Editor-in-Chief

By Monica Grewal, James Hill, and Zachary Piccolomini

IPR Motions to Amend: Rays of Hope for Patent Owners Despite Gloomy Statistics

By N. Scott Pierce

By Wendy Demoracski

The 2016 Event

Reexamination as a Valuable Option for Challenging Patent Claims

By Michael P. Visconti, III

: Latest Federal Circuit § 101 Decision Breathes New Life into Software Patents

By Dr. Ilker Donmez, Ph.D. and Mike McGurk

By Sandra J. Badin and Daniel A. Lev

BPLA Submitted Brief in Design Case of the Century

By Michael Renaud, Bret Cohen, and Nicholas Armington

The Defend Trade Secrets Act: Examining the DTSA’s Language, Use, and Future

Community Calendar

Here you can find out about upcoming events and view photo galleries of past events.

Hosted by Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers LLP

RESTORING THE PATENT SYSTEM: Countering Supreme Court Attacks on What Can Be Patented

Nominations for the BPLA Officers and Board of Governors for 2016-2017

Members on the Move

Proposed Membership By-Law Change

2015 BPLA Annual Meeting Minutes

Employment Opportunities

PTAB Bar Asssociation