Workshop on How America Invents Act Will Affect Best Business Practices

Coming to Arlington, Va., Friday; Live Webcast Also Available

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Are you ready for the biggest change in patent law in more than 140 years? Find out how you can protect yourself in light of the America Invents Act with a "Workshop on How the AIA Will Affect Best Business Practices."

Sponsored by the IEEE Intellectual Property Professionals Initiative, the event will be hosted by George Mason University on Friday, 19 October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Webcast live.

The workshop is designed for inventors, engineering and intellectual property managers, and attorneys advising inventors and business leaders to mitigate their risks, protect their inventions and adapt their R&D and business practices to the new law. Find out what new rules went into effect on 16 September and what changes are in store for 16 March, 2013.

"This is the time to review your patent and innovation processes to optimize your business operations or risk losing significant protection for your inventions," Former IEEE-USA Intellectual Property Committee Chair Keith Grzelak said. "This seminar will provide lawyers, inventors and business people with a list of critical issues that might not be clear from the legislative and regulatory language of the America Invents Act."

In addition to Grzelak, an IP attorney and principal at Wells St. John P.S. (Spokane, Wash.), speakers include David Boundy, vice president and assistant general counsel for intellectual property at Cantor Fitzgerald (Boston); Adam Mossoff, professor of law, George Mason University School of Law; Robert Sterne, founding director of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, P.L.L.C. (Washington); Carlos Villamar, patent attorney, The Villamar Firm, P.L.L.C. (Falls Church, Va.); Janet Gongola, patent reform coordinator, United States Patent and Trademark Office; and Dr. Rick Neifeld, patent attorney, Neifeld IP Law, PC (Alexandria, Va.).

The event will be held at George Mason's Founders Hall (room 134), 3351 Fairfax Drive in Arlington, Va. It is two blocks from the Virginia Square -- GMU Metro Station on the Orange Line. Underground parking is also available.

To register, see http://www.ieeeusa.org/IP-Pros/Workshops/Oct2012/default.asp.

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SOURCE IEEE-USA