Silicon Valley USPTO is Open for Business!

Probably the best and most attended EDAC Emerging Companies event happened last week so congratulations to Bob Smith and staff. The premise was to develop, strengthen, and protect your intellectual property which is paramount to all emerging technology companies. Many people in this industry, including myself, have learned this lesson the hard way, absolutely.

Remember Avant!? Yes some code was misappropriated by a nefarious consultant but the dirty deed did not merit the destruction of the company and the stake holders (my opinion). I was also involved in a simple EDA contract dispute that blew up into a multi-million dollar litigation. What a colossal waste of time and resources! I remember offering to split the difference (they would pay half of the contract amount) so we could shake hands and walk away with dignity. But of course lawyers got involved and it cost the opposing company 20x in settlement and legal fees. Our industry is strife with good and bad litigation so yes we should all pay attention here.

First up was the Mayor of San Jose, Sam Liccardo. What a great guy! After watching the recent presidential debates I was not looking forward to meeting another politician but seriously, Sam renewed my faith in the American political system, at least at the local level for sure.

Next up was John Cabeca, Director of the new Silicon Valley Patent and Trademark Office. Another great guy who clearly gets us and is an EXCELLENT resource for emerging technology companies:

The Silicon Valley, known as one of the most prodigious and innovative entrepreneurial communities in the country, was selected as our West Coast presence to assist the USPTO in fostering and protecting innovation. Looking for information focused on startups? Visit our Startup Resources page.

Take a look at the upcoming events calendar. Can you believe there is a Girl Scout Merit Badge for intellectual property!?!?!? And speed dating for start-ups? 😎

• November 10, 2015
  Patent Quality Chat Webinar Viewing
  USPTO Silicon Valley Office
  26 S. Fourth Street
  San Jose, CA 95113
  View the Patent Quality Chat Webinar featuring Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality, Valencia Martin Wallace in our offices. The webinar will be proctored by one of our Silicon Valley resource supervisory patent examiners.

• November 10, 2015
  Trademark Tuesday—”Lunch and Learn”
  USPTO Silicon Valley Office
  26 S. Fourth Street
  San Jose, CA 95113
  The USPTO Trademark Assistance Center discusses resources and answers questions via webinar.

• November 17, 2015
  Info Session: Ombudsman, Prior Art Search, and Interview Practice
  USPTO Silicon Valley Office
  26 S. Fourth Street
  San Jose, CA 95113
  Applicants and attorneys learn about programs and resources for more efficient patent prosecution.

• November 19, 2015
  Patent “Lunch and Learn”
  Supervisory patent agents help inventors and entrepreneurs during live information sessions.
  

• December 12, 2015 – Girls Scout Intellectual Property Badge Program
  Girls grades 2-8 learn about intellectual property rights in collaboration with The Tech Museum of Innovation and The Girl Scouts.
  

• December 15, 2015, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT
  Trademark Tuesday – Lunch and Learn
  USPTO Silicon Valley Office
  26 S. Fourth Street
  San Jose, CA 95113
  The USPTO Trademark Assistance Center discusses resources and answers questions via webinar.

• January 26, 2016 – Patents and Trademarks 101
  The USPTO delivers intellectual property basics at the new Patent and Trademark Resource Center in the King Library in San Jose.
  

• February 2016

  • Speed Dating for Startups
  • Cybersecurity Partnership Meeting
  • PTAB Rules Update

The second half of the evening with EDAC was a panel session with lawyers. I tried to pretend to care about what they had to say but I failed and left after 30 minutes. Let’s face it, our legal system is not unlike our political system but I digress…

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