51²è¹Ý

 

 

Friday, February 16th, 2024 

Please join the 51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law for a symposium exploring the latest major controversies, legal developments, and judicial decisions in the field of intellectual property, through panel presentations and discussions with distinguished academics, jurists, and practitioners.

Update 2/14/2024: Please note that luncheon seating is at capacity. While overflow seating will be available, meal availability cannot be guaranteed for registrations received after 1:00 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 14th. Thank you for understanding

 

Texas MCLE Accreditation Approval Certificate 

 

 

4.25 Hours Texas MCLE Accreditation Pending 

Questions? Email NatalieG@smu.edu

Symposium Schedule of Events 

20th Symposium on Emerging Intellectual Property Issues:

Intellectual Property and Texas

February 16, 2024

51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law

Presented by the Tsai Center for Law, Science and Innovation 

Please join the 51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law for a symposium exploring the latest major controversies, legal developments, and judicial decisions in the field of intellectual property, through panel presentations and discussions with distinguished academics, practitioners, and jurists. This year’s symposium will explore significant changes in IP law and practice over the past 20 years, with a particular emphasis on its impact in Texas. 

8:15  Registration and Breakfast

Location: Underwood Law Library Hillcrest Classroom 

9:00                 Opening Remarks

Jason Nance, Judge James Noel Dean and Professor of Law

David O. Taylor, Co-Director of the Tsai Center for Law, Science and Innovation and Professor of Law, 51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law

9:00–10:15         The Past and the Future of IP Law             

Our first panel will discuss important changes in each of the areas of intellectual property law over the past twenty years—copyright, patent, and trademark law. Our panelists will then forecast the future of IP law in light of recent events and technologies such as the exponential growth of artificial intelligence.

Panelists:   

Sari Mazzurco, Assistant Professor of Law, 51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law

Xuan-Thao Nguyen, Pendleton Miller Chair in Law and Director of the Asian Law Center, University of Washington School of Law

W. Keith Robinson, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Law, Wake Forest University School of Law

Moderator:

Matthew Hayenga, Assistant General Counsel, Senior Vice President, Bank of America

10:15:-10:30       Break

10:30–11:45       The Explosion of Patent Litigation in Texas                

Our second panel will reflect on the emergence of the Eastern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas as jurisdictions that handle a significant share of all of the patent litigation in the United States. The panel will compare and contrast the emergence of and practice in these two jurisdictions.

Panelists:

K. Nicole Mitchell, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas 

Michael C. Smith, Partner, Scheef & Stone, LLP 

Bruce S. Sostek, Partner, Holland & Knight

Moderator:

Theodore Stevenson, III, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP

12:00-1:00          Lunch Keynote: A Fireside Chat with Hope Shimabuku ’05

Location: Karcher Auditorium, Storey Hall

For our keynote speaker, we will welcome Hope Shimabuku ’05, Texas Regional Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She will discuss the emergence of the concept of regional patent offices, the impact and resources these offices provide, how these offices have changed the innovation landscape, and the prospect for how these offices may continue to impact innovation and legal practice in the future.

Speaker:     

Hope Shimabuku, Regional Director, Texas Regional Office, United States Patent and Trademark Office

Moderator:

David O. Taylor, Co-Director of the Tsai Center for Law, Science and Innovation and Professor of Law, 51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law

1:15–2:30  Board Adjudication of IP Disputes

Location:Underwood Law Library Hillcrest Classroom 

Our third panel will address adjudication of intellectual property disputes by Boards created by Congress within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Library of Congress. While the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has long existed, Congress passed legislation creating the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in 2011 (replacing the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences) and the Copyright Claims Board in 2020. This panel will discuss why these Boards exist, how adjudication of disputes before these Boards differs from litigation before courts, and what the future may hold with respect to these Boards.

Panelists:

Judge Stacey White, Lead Administrative Patent Judge, Patent Trial and Appeal Board

Cynthia C. Lynch, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Trademark Judge, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board

Brad Newberg, Copyright Claims Officer, Copyright Claims Board

Moderator:

Michael D. Pegues, Partner, Polsinelli

2:30                     Closing Remarks

David O. Taylor, Co-Director of the Tsai Center for Law, Science and Innovation and Professor of Law, 51²è¹Ý Dedman School of Law