Seattle Intellectual Property American Inn of Court

The Seattle IP Inn of Court hosted and welcomed the Washington State Patent Law Association (WSPLA) to the meeting. Group 4 assembled a panel to discuss the ethics implications and potential conflicts when lawyers’ representation of clients and scopes of duties intersect with IP.

Speakers:

• James Barker, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
• Ben Byer, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
• Harold Federow, Port of Seattle
• Doug Stewart, Bracewell LLP

The program included discussion of the following topics:

1. Patent attorneys as inventors
2. Trademark attorneys as mark creators
3. Litigators’ acceptance of ownership as part of their fee
4. Panel discussion regarding general ethical concerns when attorneys contribute to clients’ IP
5. Q & A for the panel

Thank you for your ethics presentation, Group 4! Thank you for attending, WSPLA members!

Group 3 gave a panel presentation entitled “A Review of Key Patent Law Developments in 2018.” Thank you for your presentation, Group 3!

Group 2 reenacted portions of the U.S. Supreme Court oral argument in the WesternGeco LLC, v. Ion Geophysical Corporation, No. 16-1011, 585 U.S. ___ (2018) patent case. Oral argument occurred on April 16, 2018 and the Court issued its decision on June 22, 2018. Thank you to Group 2 for a lively and entertaining presentation!

The Robert J. Bryan Inn of Court hosted the William L. Dwyer Inn of Court and the Seattle IP Inn of Court for the annual joint meeting of the Puget Sound area Inns. The presentation was the one and only showing of “Interesting Times,” a tale of lawyer life at its grittiest, with a musical twist. Thank you to the Robert J. Bryan Inn of Court for hosting!

The Seattle IP Inn of Court welcomed new and current members to the first meeting of the 2018 – 2019 season. The new members participated in a New Member Orientation. Group 1 presented “Trends in Enforceability of License Terms,” a combination skit, issues discussion and case law discussion. Thank you for your presentation, Group 1! Welcome to the Seattle IP Inn of Court, new members!

The Seattle IP Inn of Court enjoyed wonderful weather and a beautiful view of Elliott Bay at its year end party. Former President Mark P. Walters expressed our appreciation to outgoing President Warren Rheaume for his service to the Inn. Thank you to the Inn’s members for their participation and contributions during the 2017 – 2018 year!

Group 7 and the Seattle IP Inn of Court welcomed international guest speakers from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the University of Washington School of Law. Dominic Keating, director of the USPTO IP Attaché Program, provided background on the IP Attaché program. IP Attachés Michael Mangelson, China, Laura Hammel, South America, Susan Wilson, European Union, Komal Kalha, India and South Asia, and Deborah Lashley-Johnson, WTO and WIPO, each spoke on issues in their respective regions. Dr. Jan B. Krauß, German patent attorney and University of Washington School of Law Guest Lecturer, rounded out the panel, focusing on Brexit. Professor Margaret Chon, Seattle University School of Law, moderated the panel. Thank you to all the panelists, Professor Chon and to Group 7 for a special presentation on international IP issues!

Group 6 presented a panel discussion entitled “Diversity on Trial Teams – A Judicial and In-House Panel Discussion.” The Honorable Judge Marsha Pechman of the Western District of Washington, Isabella Fu (Associate General Counsel with Microsoft) and Stephen McGrath (Principal Corporate Counsel, Patents & IP at T-Mobile) participated in the panel. Thank you to the panel participants and Group 6!

On behalf of Group 5, Angela Galloway and Glory Francke, T-Mobile Legal Affairs, Privacy, presented The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Thank you, Angela, Glory and Group 5!

Group 4 presented Damages if You Do, Damages if You Don’t: Trends in IP Damages Law.Thank you, Group 4!