Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the 2020 Membership Year and the Winter Newsletter of the Boston Patent Law Association. It is turning out to be a challenging time for everyone. The coronavirus is brutalizing the economy, and causing cancellations and dislocations across society. The BPLA is not immune from this. Of course, this is highly disruptive. Our plans for a Spring IP Symposium, offering a new approach to our meetings and expected to energize attendance, are being adjusted. The Symposium features Director Iancu of the USPTO as keynote luncheon speaker, and a breakfast address by Krish Gupta, Senior VP – Litigation and Intellectual Property at Dell Technologies. In addition, a plenary ethics lecture (NY CLE applied for), presented by Prof. David Hricik, of Mercer University School of Law, caps a full-day of committee activities. In light of developments, the scheduled May 8 date is canceled. We will keep you apprised as alternative arrangements are made. In addition, the annual BPLA Dinner in Honor of the Judiciary will be postponed, pending additional information. Also postponed is the FCBA & BPLA Program: Bench, Bar, Boston. Notwithstanding these disruptions, it has been a busy and productive year so far. Our new Diversity and Inclusion committee held an Organizational Roundtable meeting and cosponsored, with the Contested Matters committee, an excellent event featuring “Boston’s Top Women at the PTAB.” Our special thanks are due to Diversity cochairs Mary Lou Wakimura and Kristen Salvaggio, and to Contested Matter cochairs Cory Bell and Stephanie Schonewald for this excellent work. The Legislative Committee, established last year by Immediate Past President Deirdre Sanders on an basis, has now been confirmed as a full substantive committee. Congratulations and thanks to Deirdre, as well as to her cochairs Past President Erik Belt and Myron Kassaraba for the excellent work done to date. The committee has held an organizational meeting and several teleconferences this year and its activities are well underway. Susan Montgomery and David Olson of the Law School committee produced an exceptional “Making Connections in Boston’s IP Community,” featuring 18 sponsoring firms and capacity attendance in February. Also in February, the Caselaw Club met to discuss the state of the PTAB in light of the Federal Circuit’s decision. Sincere thanks to committee cochair Michelle Nyein, who led the discussion. Finally, we express our appreciation to chair Kia Freeman of the committee, and cochairs Pat Concannon and Lori Shyavitz of Trademarks and Unfair Competition, for an excellent brief addressing Our briefs are among the most visible and enduring aspects of our work as an organization, and the generous contributions of these attorneys benefit us all. All of this excellent work illuminates the strength and vibrancy of the BPLA as it approaches its hundredth anniversary. We continue to bring together friends and colleagues to advance intellectual property, and promote the rule of law. This year we are welcoming international colleagues into our ranks with a new membership category. I urge you to contact your corresponding agents and attorneys to make them aware of the benefits and advantages of membership in the BPLA. This provides a model letter introducing the Association. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the Boston Patent Law Association. Together, we will overcome the present adversities, and continue to advance the honorable objectives of this fine organization. Michael Bergman, President