February 6 Event will bring experts and technology transfer officers together to discuss new changes in law
Melville, NY – Accelerate Long Island, the Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT) and the Long Island Software and Technology Network (LISTnet) are partnering with the New York Intellectual Property Law Association to sponsor a half-day event that focuses on new changes in patent laws and best practices in intellectual property protection for start-up companies.
The event is called “First-To-File: Is Your Company Ready for the Upcoming Changes to the Patent Laws?” and will be held at the Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage on February 6, 2012 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a networking reception.
The federal America Invents Act was signed into law in September 2011 and includes the most sweeping changes to the United States patent laws in over fifty years. One of the most important changes is the “first-to-file” system, which will replace the “first-to-invent” system effective March 16, 2013. The first-to-file system is currently used in all countries except for the United States and means the right to the invention is with the first person that files the patent application for the invention.
The program will feature experts in the area of intellectual property, including IP lawyers and a representative from the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. In addition, there will be panel discussions on the new changes taking effect, an overview of why intellectual property issues are important to Long Island start-up companies, and a discussion with the technology transfer officers from Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University on best practices in maximizing intellectual property protection for start-up companies.
“Intellectual property issues are very challenging for early stage high-tech start-up companies. Writing and filing the patent correctly is the most important first step for start-up companies – if the proper process is not followed, the start-up company will most certainly face difficultly down the road. We hope this event will shed light on new patent laws and help start-ups navigate the intellectual property process,” said Mark Lesko, Executive Director of Accelerate Long Island.
“We are happy to partner with Accelerate Long Island, LIFT and LISTnet on this event, which will highlight sweeping changes to the U.S. patent laws. The New York Intellectual Property Law Association will help to assist in the development of Long Island’s innovation economy and we hope this event will benefit not just our members, but everyone in the budding Long Island entrepreneurial community,” said Thomas Meloro, President of the New York State Intellectual Property Law Association.
“Our federal and state governments provide significant support resources for small business technology development. Unfortunately, available programs are often unknown or require help to understand. LIFT, as the down-state Regional Innovation Specialist, is pleased to provide help to small and start-up businesses in identifying what is available and how to successfully apply,” said Bill Wahlig, Executive Director of the Long Island Forum for Technology.
“There have been major changes to issuing a patent and what it means. Carter DeLuca & Farrell are the premier company in this area, so the panels will tell you what it means for your company. This event is a must to attend to get the latest rules,” said Peter Goldsmith, President of LISTnet.
Accelerate Long Island, LIFT and LISTnet recently announced that they formed a strategic alliance to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem on Long Island. The three organizations signed a Teaming Agreement establishing this relationship. Accelerate Long Island, LIFT and LISTnet are working together on three specific areas: networking and instructional events to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem, cross-marketing the region as a technology hub and providing assistance to companies and entrepreneurs.
Visit www.nyipla.org to register for “First-To-File: Is Your Company Ready for the Upcoming Changes to the Patent Laws?” The full program is as follows:
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Registration & Refreshments
1:00 PM – 1:05 PM Welcome Remarks Thomas Meloro, NYIPLA President
1:05 PM – 2:25 PM The Upcoming And Recent Changes To U.S. Patent Law Under The America Invents Act
- Moderator: Colman Ragan, Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP
- Panelists: Peter DeLuca, Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP Michael Johnson, Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP, Sue Purvis, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Greater New York Region
2:40 PM – 3:05 PM Overview of how Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and IP Issues are Vital to Long Island’s Companies
- Moderator: Raymond Farrell, Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt
- Speaker: William Wahlig, Executive Director, LIFT
3:05 PM – 4:25 PM Workshop Panel: Discussion of Hypothetical Scenarios and Best Practices in Maximizing IP Protection
- Moderator: Mark Lesko, Executive Director, Accelerate Long Island.
- Panelists: Walter Copan, Office of Technology Commercialization and Partnerships, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Tom O’Rourke, Bodner & O’Rourke, Donna Tumminello, Office of Technology Licensing and Industry Relations, Stony Brook University, Michael McEntee, Accelerate Long Island Entrepreneur in Residence
4:25 PM – 4:30 PM Closing Remarks, Colman Ragan, NYIPLA Meetings & Forums Committee Co-Chair
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Networking Reception
About Accelerate Long Island
Accelerate Long Island was created in 2011 to foster the development of an innovation-based economy on Long Island. Long Island’s world class academic and research institutions have approximately $1.2 billion in annual research funding. It is the goal of Accelerate Long Island to commercialize that research into start-up companies in three industry clusters: Information Technology, Biotech/life sciences, and Energy. Accelerate Long Island has three broad initiatives: Accelerate Funding, which includes a $500,000 seed fund for early stage companies and is matched by $750,000 from the Long Island Emerging Technologies Fund; Accelerate Assist, which builds teams of mentors, professional services and MBA students around start-up companies; and Accelerate Ecosystem, which works to develop Long Island’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Website: www.accelerateli.org
Twitter: @AccelerateLI
About LIFT
The Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT) is a non-profit economic development organization working with the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). LIFT is NYSTAR’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for Long Island and the region’s official MEP. Its role is far reaching, including helping members win government contracts and grants to grow their businesses; aligning companies with synergistic lines and missions; giving members access to critical business improvement and quality management systems across core areas; providing lean product design and development services, innovation engineering, feasibility studies, material analysis services and rapid prototyping; and offering industry-specific education forums. The LIFT Family of Companies reflects several major technology and related initiatives, including: the Applied Science Foundation for Homeland Security, the Rail Alliance, the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology Innovation Center, Information Technology, and Workforce Development. LIFT’s primary mission is to commercialize Long Island’s technology.
Website: www.lift.org
Twitter: @LIFTorg
About LISTnet
LISTnet was started in 1997 and has grown to about 1000 company members. LISTnet’s mission is to have Long Island be recognized as a Tech Center of Excellence and to help the tech companies grow and remain here on Long Island. LISTnet has 17 Special Interest Groups (SIG’s), and Councils like CEO, CIO & ECHO, and their four areas of concentration are Healthcare/IT, Wireless/Mobility, Cyber Security and Smart Energy. LISTnet has run the Long Island Software Awards (LISA) for 17 years, and just started the LI Tech COMETS program, or Connected Organization Mentoring Exciting Tech Startups. It has set-up the three winning companies at the new LI Tech Mall in Hauppauge. LISTnet has also started its newest SIGs (Special Interest Groups) Lean Startup and LI Startups to help support and promote the tech start-up community on LI.
Website: www.listnet.org Twitter: @LISTnet
About the New York Intellectual Property Association
The New York Intellectual Property Law Association, or NYIPLA, is a bar association principally composed of lawyers interested in patent, trademark and copyright law who live or work in the jurisdictions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, namely New York, Connecticut and Vermont, and the District of New Jersey. Established in 1922, NYIPLA members are in private, corporate and government practice. Members of the Judiciary are ex officio Honorary Members. The Association promotes the development and administration of intellectual property and related laws. It provides its membership with an opportunity to make their views known and to advance the knowledge of legal professionals, the judiciary, government and the public. Today, the NYIPLA exceeds 1500 intellectual property attorneys practicing throughout the United States and abroad.
The Association has a combined total of twenty-nine active Committees and Representatives/Liaisons, whose scope covers all aspects of intellectual property law and practice and related topics. Since 2000, the Association has been an accredited provider of programs, both live and on video, that meet New York State CLE requirements. Members of the bar interested in patent, trademark or copyright law and of good character and in good standing may apply for membership to the New York Intellectual Property Law Association.
Website: www.nyipla.org
Twitter: @nyipla