Posts Tagged: "cle"

USPTO Issues Final Rule to Eliminate CLE Certification Program

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) yesterday announced a final rule to eliminate the provisions within the agency’s rules related to voluntary continuing legal education (CLE) certification and recognition for registered patent practitioners and individuals granted limited recognition to practice in patent matters before the USPTO. The rule also eliminates the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) Director’s ability to publish the CLE status of patent practitioners. It will go into effect on February 27. The agency received critical comments from a variety of patent practitioners and interest groups about the USPTO’s lack of compliance with federal administrative law statutes related to agency rulemaking. Additionally, stakeholders highlighted the increased administrative and financial burden for patent practitioners if the CLE program was implemented.

Exclusive Interview: PTO Director Andrei Iancu and OED Director Will Covey on Practitioner Dues, CLE and Unauthorized Practice

The focus of this interview was OED generally, but more specifically why they Office felt it was necessary to begin charging annual dues to practitioners and what those funds would be used for. I indicated leading up to the interview that I would specifically like to discuss the issue of unauthorized practice of law, explaining that I personally was not philosophically opposed to dues but that as a registered patent practitioner myself I would like to see OED do more than just reciprocal discipline, which appears to be the overwhelming portion of their work, at least if you look at the OED Reading Room of published decisions. Director Covey came with statistics and followed up after the interview with the chart included below. While it may appear OED focuses overwhelmingly on reciprocal discipline, that is a tiny fraction of what they do.

USPTO proposes CLE and bar dues for patent practitioners

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has provided the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) information relating to proposed patent fees in advance of the PPAC meeting on fees scheduled for September 6, 2018. Among the documents released are a spreadsheet detailing various “Patent Enrollment Fees”. Lines 195 through 198 propose the creation of a new fee code relating to the imposition of annual patent bar dues for all patent practitioners, which would range from $240 per year to $410 per year, depending upon whether the dues were paid electronically, and whether the dues were paid with or without a certificate of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) compliance.

PLI Sponsors Gene Quinn on Law Firm Speaking Tour

Over the last month or so it has been made known to PLI that some law firms might be interested in me coming to the firm to give a talk or presentation on some hot patent related issue of the moment. It has also come to my attention that a number of firms have weekly or bi-weekly sessions already scheduled where one member of the firm is tasked with creating a presentation worthy of CLE credit for a “lunch and learn” presentation. I am happy to come to your firm to give such a presentation, and at no cost to your firm. All you have to do is let me speak for 5 minutes about PLI offerings, such as their CLE Seminars, Patent Bar Review Course and Treatises. I promise these 5 minutes won’t eat into any CLE worthy presentation I give, and will meet any requirements as agree upon so as to make sure attorneys attending get appropriate CLE credit.

Practising Law Institute Helping Out Attorneys in Down Economy

PLI is offering scholarships for unemployed attorneys and they are also hosting Winning Strategies for Managing Your Career 2010 for the special price of $25. From time to time PLI also gives away ethics credits for free, and pro bono training. In reality, an announcement of scholarships and $25 programs hardly comes from the shameless commerce division, and for that reason I hope that you will consider helping spread the word.