In this issue:

- 2005 Summer IPL Conference

- Section Business Meeting

- Patent Law Reform Efforts

- New IP Valuation Primer

- Berkeley Conference

Chair's Bulletin

The May/June 2005 issue of the Chair's Bulletin is now available on the Section website. The printed version is on its way to members' mailboxes.

See Why the IP Valuation Primer is Selling Like Hotcakes



In today’s increasingly complex and highly regulated business environment, the accurate and complete valuation of intellectual property is essential. The Section has sold almost 1,300 copies of Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Valuation: A Primer for Identifying and Determining Value since its release in March. Written by experts in the area, this primer answers some of the most frequently asked questions about identifying the value of the primary types of intellectual property and other intangible assets. It also looks at the primary, traditional, and not-so-traditional methods of valuing these assets, and includes case studies and situations where valuation is required.

Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Valuation answers some of the most frequently asked questions about IP and valuation, including: 1) What is a piece of intellectual property, and what is an intangible asset? 2) When are they the same and when are they different? 3) What are the different groups of intellectual property and how are they described and valued? 4) Do pieces of intellectual property have value? 5) Do they all have value? If not, why not? 6) Is it true that sometimes a given piece of IP can have great value and at other times no value at all, and if so, how can this be?

To learn more about the primer and to order your copy at a special (limited time only!) discounted price, go to
www.abanet.org/abapubs/
books/5370143.

The Berkeley Conference on Antitrust in the Technology Economy

The application of antitrust law and economics to technology industries and issues will be the subject of this two-day conference taking place June 9-10 at UC-Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. A world-class roster of government antitrust officials, business leaders, economists and lawyers will discuss cutting-edge issues, such as the relationship between antitrust and intellectual property law, merger analysis in dynamic industries, antitrust limitations on patent settlements, the control of standards, and dominant firm conduct. Case studies will be drawn from the computer hardware and software, bio-technology, electronic commerce and other information-intensive businesses. While the focus will be on the specific application of antitrust analysis to technology markets, the curriculum will offer an in-depth review of many antitrust principles with general import.

For more information and to register, go to
www.abanet.org/antitrust/
programs/berkeley_
conference/berkeley.html.

2005 Summer IPL Conference is Next Month!

Hurry to Secure Your Early Bird Registration and
Discounted Hotel Rates!



The spectacular line-up of events and CLE offerings for the 2005 Summer IPL Conference in San Francisco has been released. This conference is an absolute must for Section members and their families. It provides opportunities for all intellectual property practitioners, members, non-members, the new and the experienced, to gain insights into new developments, debate current issues and share ideas with others interested in improving the protection of intellectual property nationally and internationally.

The educational programs will feature the latest developments in IP law presented by leading authorities in the field. The Business Session will include reports from the Section's substantive committees for analysis, debate and adoption of resolutions that will be the foundation of Section and ABA positions, Congressional testimony, and statements to the PTO and international IP bodies on intellectual property law issues for years to come. CLE credit will be available for both the educational programs and the Business Session.

The cut-off date for discounted registration is June 8, so go to www.abanet.org/intelprop/
summer2005 to register now! Also remember to reserve your hotel room, as the special conference rate will expire May 30.

Section Council Classified Committee Resolutions

The Section Council met on April 26 to review and classify resolutions submitted by Section committees. The resolutions deal with all current topics in the field of intellectual property law.

A full report of the results of the classification meeting appears in the May/June issue of the Chair's Bulletin. The Section Business Meeting will discuss resolutions classified for further debate on June 23 during the Summer IPL Conference in San Francisco. All are invited to attend these sessions. For further information on the Summer IPL Conference in San Francisco and to register online, visit the website at www.abanet.org/intelprop/
summer2005, or call 312-988-5598.


Section Pushes
for Patent Law Improvement

The Section has been hard at work on patent law improvement and reform. Over the last several weeks, the Section has been working with other major groups interested in patent law reform, such as the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Intellectual Property Owners Association, and the Business Software Alliance in an attempt to reach a consensus of the specifics on a patent law reform/improvement bill. The efforts of these organizations to come up with a consensus bill continue. Among the major issues being addressed are: post grant opposition, first inventor to file, the definition of prior art, elimination of best mode, assignee filing of patent applications, publication of all patent applications after 18 months, PTO funding and fee diversion, willful infringement, inequitable conduct, prior user rights, double patenting, injuctions, pre-grant citation of prior art, the standard of proving invalidity regarding art not considered by the examiner, and expanded inter-partes reexamination.

The Section was also invited to testify at the first of the House IP Subcommittee Hearings on April 20, 2005, along with representatives from the Intellectual Property Owners Association, the Business Software Alliance, and Genetech. Section Chair William LaFuze testified on behalf of the American Bar Association with respect to the issue of first-inventor-to-file, and with respect to other issues raised by the Committee Print draft bill on Patent Quality Improvement on behalf of the Section. A complete copy of the Committee Print can be found at www.abanet.org/
intelprop/home/
DraftPatentStatuteDDC.pdf and William LaFuze's testimony can be found at www.abanet.org/
intelprop/ LaFuze_Testimony_
4-20-05.doc.