As intellectual property rights have be-come core assets of modern businesses, the importance of the process of acquiring such rights has been emphasized. This emphasis also reflects the rise in litigation challenges to the validity, enforceability and scope of intellectual property rights based on disclaimer, estoppel, inequitable conduct and fraud theories.

This Practical Tips program offers a survey of best practices in patent, trademark and copyright prosecution, including proceedings before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. This program will also cover the interdiscipli-nary field of design protection. The program features top professionals from the IP field who will provide practical advice on dealing with the nuts and bolts of these emerging issues. For the 11th year, the Practical Tips program is spon-sored by the Young Lawyers Committee of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law.