Intellectual Property Law

The USPTO considers the effects of the wildfires in California beginning on January 7, 2025, to be an “extraordinary situation” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183, 2.146(a)(5), and 2.148 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and registered trademark owners. Read more

Do you have a duty to practice with civility?   Many State Bars have guidelines regarding civility and professionalism.  And some states include civility in the oath to practice law.  In this session, you will learn... Read more

The time for the Institute is finally upon us! I look forward to seeing many of you in Long Beach! For those of you who may be missing out, there’s still time to sign up and join us. Read more

California Lawyers Association’s (CLA) Intellectual Property (IP) Institute is considered the premier event of its kind. Now in its 48th year, attorneys in the IP field connect to discuss the numerous shifts impacting this legal specialty. This year’s event takes place from March 6-8, 2025, in Long Beach, California. However, this is not an article about the upcoming Institute. This is a recognition of exceptional people. Andy Gass Each year, CLA’s IP Section honors outstanding legal professionals for their contributions… Read more

On January 23, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence and rescinded former President Biden’s AI policies. Read more

I wanted to start by taking a moment to say that my thoughts, and the thoughts of all of us here at the IP Section, are with those impacted by the tragic wildfires in the Los Angeles area. There are very few of us who do not have colleagues, family, friends, or loved ones who have been impacted by these catastrophic fires. Read more

Each year at the IP Institute, the Section honors outstanding legal professionals for their contributions to the advancement of intellectual property law. Read more

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a final rule introducing a significant new fee structure for continuing patent applications. Read more

The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced that it has filed an amicus brief in a referral to the Grand Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that asks for clarification on registering human faces as trademarks. Read more

1.0 Hour Wellness Competence REGISTER HERE Law practice can be grueling. The work can be intense, and the hours, long. Stress is inevitable, but with a systematic and comprehensive wellness program, with regular hiking as the foundation, manageable. This will be a demanding 12-mile loop, starting/ending at Ohlone College - Student Parking Lot K. From Ohlone College, we will hike to the Peak, then along the ridge, down to the Stanford Avenue Staging Area, back up to the Peak, and… Read more