Posts Tagged: "coronavirus"

A Changing Economy Provides an Opportunity to Reassess Corporate IP Strategy

The current novel coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout may provide a good opportunity to step back and reevaluate the way companies approach intellectual property. Many are already broadly reorganizing workflows for collaborative development to deal with distanced or remote working. This may provide an opportunity to reassess where IP fits within these workflows and to find opportunities for greater collaboration. The slowed—or, for some, halted—economy has also lengthened or delayed development cycles, which may give the time needed to discover new ways of strategically managing patent filings. Even those companies seeing less drastic economic effects may observe market trends toward new products or even new categories that fall outside of previous forecasting and planning, inviting more focus and less-compressed schedules.

IPW Webinar – The Race for a Coronavirus Vaccine: The Intersection of Science & IP Policy

Join Gene Quinn, patent attorney and leading commentator on patent law and innovation policy, on Tuesday, September 22 at 1pm ET. Gene will host a wide-ranging conversation on the topic of COVID-19 and the race toward a coronavirus vaccine. In addition to discussing the science and FDA processes involved, we discuss intellectual property rights and more. Joining Gene will be immunization expert Dr. Jonathan Temte, a Professor at the Wisconsin School of Medicine who also serves as a member of the CDC’s Board of Scientific Counselors, and Melissa Brand, Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

Business (Almost) as Usual at Brazilian IP Courts and IPO

Like most countries, Brazil has been facing severe restrictions in an attempt to slow down the spread of COVID-19.  Non-essential services are currently closed in almost all metropolitan areas and authorities are discussing plans to resume activities while the number of fatalities reaches its peak. In Brazil, the courts have approximately 450,000 employees, including more than 18,000 judges. If we also consider 1.2 million attorneys, it is reasonable to say that the justice system in Brazil involves at least 1.65 million people. The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) operates on a smaller scale, with no more than 1,000 public officials on duty. The IP community is on average quite smaller in comparison to other areas, such as banking and M&A, but still extremely active. The BPTO hears over 250,000 proceedings per year, including patent, trademark, design applications and contracts.

International Approaches to Accelerating Innovation and Access in the Pandemic

In the wake of COVID-19, government officials around the world face unprecedented decisions about when and to what extent they should reopen their respective societies before effective anti-viral medications or vaccines have been developed, necessary regulatory approvals obtained, and those solutions are manufactured for public use. Fundamentally, such decisions will require a delicate balance between protecting public health and facilitating economic growth, which, as we have all been reminded this year, are deeply intertwined.

Practice at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board During a Pandemic

The business of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) continues on as most practitioners transition into another month of working from home. Like many courts, the PTAB has adapted its standard practices. For example, the PTAB has transitioned to remote hearings and encouraged remote depositions, but has otherwise continued to advocate for business as usual. The PTAB also appears to be accommodating requested scheduling changes. This article addresses the main highlights from recent PTAB actions to provide practitioners with additional resources as they navigate PTAB practice over the next weeks and/or months.