American Conference Institute (ACI) will be holding its 10th Annual Forum on Biotech Patents on September 15-16 in Boston, MA.  The conference will allow attendees to:

• Establish essential strategies to prepare their companies or clients in light of frenzied upheaval in the patent world;
• Analyze the profound and potentially earth shattering ramifications of recent court decisions impacting patents, particularly Tafas/GSK v. Dudas;
• Implement an effective working relationship with the USPTO to successfully manage their patent applications;
• Identify problem behaviors that could result in a claim of inequitable conduct;
• Maximize their patent strategy when considering Board of Appeals and Interference action;
• Optimize their knowledge of the impact and ramification of potential follow-on biologics and antibody technologies in the patent arena;
• Uncover the key to an effective global patent strategy in light of world-wide patent practices; and
• Expand their skills in drafting, executing, and prosecuting biotech applications.

In particular, ACI's faculty will offer presentations on the following topics:

• Key biotech cases to watch and how they may impact your practice;
• The industry speaks:  Maximizing your relationship with the PTO;
• Navigating the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences in light of the KSR decision;
• Life on the patent tightrope:  Updates on the proposed rules and patent reform;
• They are coming:  Preparing your practice for the inevitable insurgence of follow-on biologics and predicting the future of the biotech industry;
• The international perspective:  Changing patent practices in the EU and India;
• Practicing biotechnology arts:  Claim drafting strategies;
• Ex Parte Kubin:  A case study — to be presented in part by Patent Docs author Kevin Noonan;
• Strategies and applications to implement during all stages of the biotech patent prosecution process to prevent allegations of inequitable conduct; and
• Different but the same:  The unique nature of prosecuting antibody therapeutics applications under the standard patent prosecution process.

An additional master class entitled: "Drafting Successful Patent Applications for Biotechnology Related Inventions" will be offered on September 17, 2008.  The master class will walk conference attendees through the process of drafting the claims and specifications for biotechnology applications related to inventions such as research tools, pharmaceuticals, genomics, proteomics and diagnostics, and provide attendees with tools to draft strong applications that will be well positioned to withstand future challenges.  In addition, the master class will cover issues that should be considered when drafting claims in the context of litigating or licensing patent claims related to biotechnology inventions to help attendees prepare patents and structure deals that provide real value.

The agenda for the Biotech Patents conference can be found here.  A complete brochure for this conference, including an agenda, list of speakers, and registration form can be downloaded here.

The registration fee ranges from $2,195 (conference alone) to $2,795 (conference and master class).  Those registering on or before July 21, 2008 will receive a $300 discount off the registration fee and those registering on or before August 18, 2008 will receive a $200 discount off the registration fee.  Those interested in registering for the conference can do so here, by calling 1-888-224-2480, or by faxing a registration form to 1-877-927-1563.

Patent Docs is a media sponsor of ACI's Biotech Patents conference.