1999 PIUG Annual Meeting - Schedule - Update #4 (part 1 of 2)

Sandra Unger (ssunger@ix.netcom.com)
Wed, 24 Feb 1999 20:03:29 -0500

Hello,
This is to keep you informed on the plans being made for the 1999 Patent Information Users Group (PIUG) annual meeting.=A0 This note incorporates all the information from previous updates.

New this update:
- Michael Lydon is the trainer that has been selected by the EPO to attend the PIUG meeting.
- Steve Adams will offer a lecture on using the International Patent Classes (IPC's) in an online environment.
- Richard Kurt and Ford Khorsandian have organized a session on Intellectual Property Research, Valuation, and Management.=A0 This session includes three speakers and a round-table discussion.=A0
=A0 --- IP portfolio management (Carl Lucas)
=A0 --- Practices of Valuing Patents (Dan McGavock)
=A0 --- Experiences with IP Management and Valuation Tools (Keith Walker)
=A0 --- Round Table Discussion with Vendors

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The 1999 PIUG Annual Meeting is Tuesday, April 27th to Thursday April 29th in Crystal City, Washington, D.C.=A0 Several other organizations are working in cooperation with the PIUG to offer a full week of training opportunities for patent searchers.=A0

Location
=A0 -=A0 Hyatt Regency Crystal City
=A0=A0=A0=A0 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
=A0=A0=A0=A0 Arlington, VA 22202
=A0=A0=A0=A0 Toll Free Reservations phone: 800-233-1234
=A0=A0=A0=A0 Please specify that you are attending the PIUG meeting.
=A0=A0=A0=A0 The hotel provides meeting room space based on the number of guests
=A0=A0=A0=A0 attending the meeting.
=A0=A0=A0=A0 The special PIUG conference rate is $142 per night.

The near-final schedule is as follows (all times are approximate):

Sunday, April 25, 1999
=A0 - PIUG Business meeting (3pm to 5pm)

Monday, April 26, 1999
=A0 - Derwent Product Showcase (all day, contact Derwent to register)
=A0 - European Register hands-on (4 hrs) (sponsored by Dialog)
=A0 - INPADOC hands-on (4 hrs) (sponsored by Dialog)
=A0 - Dialog training ( 3 hrs, free, contact Dialog to register)

Tuesday, April 27, 1999
=A0 - breakfast (sponsored by IFI Claims)
=A0 - IFI Claims meeting (3 hrs)
=A0=A0=A0 (see details below, the IFI Claims session is open to all)
---- formal PIUG meeting begins ----
=A0 - lunch (sponsored by Derwent)
=A0 - Derwent presentation (2 hrs)
=A0 - Chemical Abstracts presentation (1 hr)
=A0 - American Petroleum Institute (API Encompass) presentation (1=20 hr)
---- evening ----
=A0 - Wine and cheese reception (sponsored by MicroPatent)
=A0 - Poster Sessions (contact Lucy Virden=A0 Itvirde@erenj.com)
=A0 - Demonstration Room - Highlighting Internet Patent databases

Wednesday, April 28, 1999
=A0 - breakfast (sponsored by Questel/Orbit)
=A0 - PIUG Business Meeting Update (Sandra Unger)
=A0 - INPADOC lecture (Michael Lydon, EPO)
=A0 - Epoline (Michael Lydon, EPO)
=A0 - esp@cenet (Michael Lydon, EPO)
=A0 - ECLA (Michael Lydon, EPO)
=A0 - lunch
=A0 - European Patent Law for Patent Searchers (Noel Akers)
=A0 - International Patent Classifications (IPC's) (Steve Adams)
---- evening ----
=A0 - IFFY players - amateur theater - Nancy Lambert (nela@chevron.com)

Thursday, April 29, 1998
=A0 - breakfast
=A0 - European Patent Register lecture (Michael Lydon, EPO)
=A0 - lunch (sponsored by Chemical Abstracts Service)
=A0 - Intellectual Property Research, Valuation, and Management
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 (Coordinated by:=A0 Richard Kurt and Ford Khorsandian)
=A0 ------ IP portfolio management (Carl Lucas)
=A0 ------ Practices of Valuing Patents (Dan McGavock)
=A0 ------ Experiences with IP Management and Valuation Tools (Keith Walker)
=A0 ------ Round Table Discussion with Vendors
---- formal PIUG meeting ends ----

Friday, April 30, 1999
=A0 - European Register hands-on (4 hrs, Michael Lydon)=A0 (sponsored by Dialog)
=A0 - INPADOC hands-on (4 hrs, Michael Lydon) (sponsored by Dialog)
=A0 - STN training (3 hrs, free, contact STN to register)
=A0 - Questel-Orbit training (3 hrs, free, contact Questel/Orbit to register)


Notes:

1) Registration for the 1999 PIUG annual meeting:
Registration materials are available in the February issue of the PIUG newsletter.=A0 This gives PIUG members a first opportunity to register for the meeting.=A0 On March 1st, the registration materials will be posted on the email list and made available to non-members of the PIUG. The registration fee for the three-day PIUG conference is:
=A0=A0=A0 $145 for PIUG Members
=A0=A0=A0 $175 for Non-Members of the PIUG
After April 1st, the fee will be $175 for everyone, if space is available.=A0 This registration fee includes breakfast and lunch for April 27 through April 29. The registration fee does not include an evening meal.=A0 Evening meals may be purchased separately in the Hotel or any of the fine Washington D.C restaurants.

2) 1999 PIUG Business Meeting
There is no fee for attending the PIUG Business Meeting on Sunday, April 25.=A0 All members of the PIUG are encouraged to attend the PIUG Business Meeting and to participate in the running of the organization.

3) Hands-On INPADOC and European Register classes
The hands-on INPADOC and European Register classes are limited to 12 students per class.=A0 There is a $75 fee for each class.=A0 Due to the limited number of seats in the hands-on classes, students will be chosen lottery style, with preference given to PIUG members.=A0 Request forms are in the PIUG newsletter.=A0 The students selected by the lottery will be notified on March 1 or shortly there after.=A0 The students may then pay the $75 fee for the class to lock-in the seat in the class.=A0 If and only if there are any unfilled seats after the "lottery", then the hands-on registration materials will be posted on the email list and opened to non-members of the PIUG.

3) Derwent Product Showcase
Derwent will be mailing out a separate registration for the Derwent Product Showcase.=A0 See the contact information at the end of this note.

4) The Dialog, Questel-Orbit and STN Patent Training classes are free, but registration is recommended.=A0 See the contact information at the end of this note.

5) A demonstration room will be open Tuesday through Thursday.=A0 A list of the demonstrators and a description of the products they plan to show is described in a separate message:=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0
1999 PIUG Annual Meeting - Demo Room - Update #4 (part 2 of 2)

I hope all these plans meet with your approval.=A0 We are really trying hard to make this meeting a wonderful opportunity for patent searchers.

Further details of the 1999 PIUG annual meeting will be published on the PIUG email list.

Sandra Unger
PIUG Chair, Inc.

Phone: (908) 730-2662
=A0=A0=A0 Fax: (908) 730-3230

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Abstracts for the 1999 PIUG Annual Meeting

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Michael Lydon has been the EPO Liaison Officer to the Irish Patents Office in Kilkenny, Ireland since 1997.=A0 He is responsible for coordinating a co-operation program between the EPO and the Irish Office comprising a number of different projects relating to the development of facilities for the promotion and use of patent information. Prior to this Michael worked at the EPO office at The Hague in The Netherlands for 6 years as a search and substantive examiner in the fields of telecommunications and cryptography. Before joining the EPO in 1991 Michael was a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. Michael received his Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield in England.=A0

Title: INPADOC DATABASES

The INPADOC patent databases, compiled by the European Patent Office, have the largest number of records and the greatest country coverage of any patent database as well as being unique in providing extensive information on the status of patents. The INPADOC databases are the source of bibliographic information from more than 60 countries and legal status information from over 20 countries. Recently introduced reductions in charges for the INPADOC databases means that the use of these sources is more cost effective than ever before.

The specialized seminar gives participants an insight into the contents, coverage and structure of the INPADOC databases. This seminar will concentrate on the structure and contents of the INPADOC databases encompassing patent family data and legal status data.

Title: Register of European Patents, On-line

The European Patent Register on-line provides users with on-line access to the bibliographic and procedural data of all European patent applications from publication up to grant, including the opposition and appeal procedure. Apart from the application and publication number, the system is accessible via applicant name, IPC and priority number. Daily updated information provides users with the legal status data of all European applications published by the EPO since 1978 and all PCT applications.

The seminar will help users to follow the patent granting procedure step by step and save on file inspections.

Title: Esp@cenet

The esp@cenet project is a free patent information service on the Internet provided by the EPO, giving users access to "worldwide" patent information.=A0 The main aim of this new service is to provide users with a readily accessible source of free=A0 information.=A0 It also aims to improve the awareness of the kind of information that is accessible to the public at national and international level.=A0 Via esp@cenet users have access to up-to-date national information of the member states of the EPO as well as to worldwide patent information.

This presentation gives an overview of the goal of the esp@cenet project and explains its coverage and usage. Worldwide patent information is accessible in esp@cenet covering a comprehensive collection of English language abstracts of patents published worldwide since 1920.

Title: ECLA

ECLA is the European Classification System developed by the EPO in order to optimize the classification system used for examining. ECLA consists of more than 120,000 categories enabling improved and more targeted classification in different subfields.=A0 Frequent updates make this classification system even more efficient.

Title: Epoline

The purpose of the epoline project is to improve both the services offered to applicants and the efficiency of the EPO by providing an integrated environment within which all communications between the applicants and the EPO can be conducted in a secure, electronic=20 way.

The areas that will be affected by the implementation of epoline include all Applicant-EPO Communication such as: filings, search reports, exchange of examination communications, publication, file inspection and access to the patent register. The system will also deal with all filing, renewal and procedural fees.

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Noel J. Akers is a Chartered British Patent Agent and European Patent Attorney.=A0 Before joining his current firm, The Frohwitter Law Firm, in Houston, Noel worked as a Patent Attorney with Shell International in its offices in London and The Hague.=A0 His current practice includes preparing and filing patent applications in Europe and around the world, together with representing clients in opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office.

Title: European Patent Law for Patent Searchers

This paper addresses key aspects of European patent law and practice, especially as they relate to patentability, opposition and freedom-to-operate searches.=A0 The paper deals in particular with the approaches taken to the fundamental issue of novelty and the manner in which prior art documents and disclosures are considered relevant, concentrating on the absolute rule of novelty as applied in Europe.=A0 The paper goes on to cover=A0 the prior art effect of earlier filed, later
published patent applications and how such documents can affect the validity of European patents.=A0 In addition, the paper considers the "problem-solution" approach as applied by the European Patent Office when considering the issue of obviousness.=A0 The paper also addresses the terminology as used in European patent claims and the format of such claims and its relevance on the scope of such claims.=A0 Throughout the paper, while the focus is on issues of European law and practice, the opportunity is taken to draw a comparison with the relevant US provisions.

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Stephen Adams is managing director of Magister Ltd., an information and training consultancy specializing in patents documentation.=A0 He trained as a chemist at the University of Bristol, then completed a Masters degree in Information Science at City University London.=A0 He has worked in technical information for over 18 years, latterly with Zeneca Agrochemicals as their principal patent searcher. He also spent periods as the editor of "International Packaging Abstracts" at Pira International and as a searcher in the UK government's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food.

Title:=A0 Dots before the eyes...using the IPC in an online environment

This paper provides an overview of the background, development and use of the IPC by patent offices, commercial database producers and searchers.=A0 The structure and rules governing the classification will be considered, together with their implications for on-line loading of class marks and catchword listings.=A0 Examples of its application and use will be reviewed, from the point of view of the searcher.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- TITLE:=A0 Intellectual Property Research, Valuation, and Management:
(Coordinated by:=A0 Richard Kurt and Ford Khorsandian)

This session will examine how business units and management evaluate their own patent portfolios as well as those of their competitors.=A0 It will provide an insight into how IP analysis can assist in positioning technology for Freedom to Practice, valuation and licensing strategies, and aid in assessing how well these assets support the overall business strategies.

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Part - 1:=A0 IP Management and Valuation

Carl Lucas - The Dow Chemical Company
R& D Operations Manager - Planning, Measures, Intellectual Asset Management

Title: IP portfolio management

Carl Lucas will start with a talk on IP portfolio management covering specific competitive awareness issues using patent mapping/trees and weekly alerts.=A0 He will discuss the process, classification tools, and key metrics for portfolio assessment and performance monitoring.=A0 He will also cover methods for rating the importance of technologies and patents to the businesses as well as identifying potential protection gaps.=A0

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Dan McGavock - founding partner of IPC Group, LLC

Title: Practices of Valuing Patents

Dan McGavock will cover the practices of valuing patents in order to estimate the worth of the IP assets, and also for litigation, licensing and royalty considerations.=A0 Topics include IP inventory and mapping; cost to obtain, maintain and enforce a patent portfolio; how IP management activities generate value; metrics to measure value of IP.

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Part - 2:=A0 Experiences with IP Management and Valuation Tools

Keith Walker - Patent Intelligence Group, Eastman Kodak Company

Keith Walker from the patent information user community will talk about his experiences with IP management and valuation tools detailing strengths, applications, and weaknesses of some of the more recent tools for IP research.=A0 Products and services from Aurigin, IBM, and Manning & Napier will be discussed as tools for IP research and management.

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Part - 3:=A0 Round Table Discussion with Vendors

A vendor panel will have the opportunity to further describe their products and discuss their future enhancements and plans for IP related research and management tools.=A0 The session will conclude with an interactive discussion between the meeting participants, vendors and speakers, with Q&A.=A0 This will be an ideal opportunity to share individual experiences with these and related tools in different industries.

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=A0=A0=A0 IFI CLAIMS SESSION, APRIL 27, 9-12 NOON

The IFI CLAIMS session is open to all. You do not need
to be an IFI subscriber to attend this session.

=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0=A0=A0 AGENDA

9-9:30=A0=A0=A0 1. Explain who IFI really is. (IFI STAFF)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 a. When did we start
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 b. What do we cover in= patents
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 c. Where did the back data come= from
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 d. Contents of the total database= as of now

9:30-10=A0=A0 2. Enhancements of the IFI files (IFI STAFF)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 a. Explain when and what is= enhanced
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 b. Why are the enhancements= important
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 c. How are the enhancements used= by searchers
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Jeff Forman - (IBM= CORP)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 d. Year-end updates - what do we= change and why -
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 what are the benefits to= the users
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 e. Summary of the IFI= enhancements versus the PTO
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 raw data

10-10:30=A0=A0=A0 Coffee Break

10:30-11=A0 3. Contents of the various IFI databases (IFI STAFF)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 a. US patent files
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 b. Uniterm file
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 c. R & R file - what is in= the file - where does
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 it come from - how and= when do we update the
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 file
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 d. IFI Reference file - why= should you use it
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 e. Citation files - file= content

11-11:30=A0 4. Explanation of other IFI databases (IFI STAFF)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 a. Patent Intelligence &= Technology Report
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 1. Printed= product
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 2. Electronic= format
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 3. Custom reports= available 1975 forward
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 b. PC Reference file
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 c. IPLEX CD
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 d. IPC Class CD
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 e. Thesaurus & term lists -= how they are used
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 f. Q & A session and what is= available from the
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 IFI help desk

11:30-12=A0 5. Patent bills before Congress -
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Joe Ebersole, (COALITION COUNSEL)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Information Futures -
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Dick Kaser - (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR= NFAIS)

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Contacts for the free training offered before and after the PIUG meeting.

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Derwent Product Showcase - Monday, April 26, all day

=A0=A0=A0=A0 Derwent Information will be hosting a full-day Product Showcase on
=A0=A0=A0=A0 Monday, April 26, in Crystal City, VA, preceding the 1999= PIUG
=A0=A0=A0=A0 Meeting.=A0 Product enhancements and updates will be presented= =20 in
=A0=A0=A0=A0 addition to the interactive demonstration stations.=A0 Further details
=A0=A0=A0=A0 will be issued in the coming weeks.=A0 Please contact Trish Maglio,
=A0=A0=A0=A0 Derwent North America's External Events Specialist, at 703-706-4220
=A0=A0=A0=A0 with questions.=A0 We look forward to seeing you in April.=A0 T= hank you.

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STN Patents Training - Friday, April 30, 8:30 to 11:30
Registration for this session will be free, but encouraged due to limited
space.=A0 Walk-ins will be accepted subject to available space.=A0
The registration information is as follows:

Training Assistant
CAS
PO Box 3012
Columbus OH 43210-0012

PHONE:=A0 800-848-6538, Ext. 3549
FAX:=A0=A0=A0 614-447-3694
E-Mail: wksp@cas.org

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Dialog Patents Training - Monday, April 26, 8:30 to 11:30

=A0 Claudia Marshall
=A0 415-288-5019
=A0 claudia_marshall@dialog.com

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Questel/Orbit Patents Training - Friday, April 30, 12:30 to 3:30

Questel.Orbit Patent Training signups for the PIUG meeting
should go to:

=A0 Lisa Gunther
=A0 Manager Customer Service
=A0 Questel.Orbit
=A0 8000 Westpark Drive
=A0 McLean, VA=A0 22102
=A0 Phone:=A0 703-556-7493
=A0 Fax:=A0 703-893-4632
=A0 lgunther@questel.orbit.com

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