Patenting After the ‘America Invents Act’ - IEEE Consultants Network

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Announcement for Thursday, June 13, 2013

Patenting After the ‘America Invents Act’

The upcoming meeting of the IEEE Consultants' Network of Northern New Jersey (www.TechnologyOnTap.org), scheduled for Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 6:30 PM features a presentation by Richard Gearhart on current patent issues.

ABOUT THE TOPIC

The America Invents Act: Better or Worse for Innovation?

The US patent system underwent a drastic change in 2011, with the passing of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Harmonizing patent-granting principles with those of many developed countries, the legislation converts from a "first to invent" to a "first inventor to file" system, eliminates interference proceedings, and develops post-grant opposition.

Engineering consultants may be developing their own patents or may be called to assist their clients in the process. America Invents Act deeply affects strategies of securing patents and their validity. The presentation will highlight significant issues raised by the new legislation.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Richard Gearhart is a Registered Patent Attorney and principal Gearhart Law, LLC, a law firm specializing in patent services. The firm provides an array of services in the mechanical, software and chemical arts, and includes patent application drafting, domestic and international patent prosecution, opinion rendering, agreement and transactional work, and litigation support.
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Richard has garnered extensive breadth of experience in the patent field during his fifteen years of practice. He is the former Head of the US Patent and Trademark group for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and served previously as General Patent Counsel at CIBA Vision Corporation, where he actively managed US and global patent litigation, as well as patent prosecution and opinions.

Prior to taking the helm at CIBA Vision, Richard worked at Dow Corning Corporation, as Senior Managing Counsel, and prior to that worked in private practice at the Geneva, Switzerland office of the international law firm of Jones, Day.

Richard graduated from Knox College with a BA in Chemistry. He received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University, and subsequently obtained a DES in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies, in Geneva, Switzerland. He is registered to practice at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and admitted to practice in the states of New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan and Massachusetts.

Richard can be reached at 973.410.4005 or at Gearhart@Gearhartlaw.com

ABOUT THE NETWORK

Founded in 1992, the IEEE Consultants Network of Northern NJ encourages and promotes the use of independent technical consultants by business and industry.

ALL ARE WELCOME!
No fees or registration required.
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Thursday, June 13, 2013
Place: Morris County Library
30 East Hanover Avenue, Whippany, NJ
Information: For up-to-date meeting status, Robert Walker, 973-728-0344, or visit our website, www.TechnologyOnTap.org.
Directions to Library: www.mclib.info

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