Normally, an academic-oriented conference would debate the merits of software patents. This conference is different. Rather than having another debate, this conference will use a premise–that software patents are a problem–as a springboard for discussing ways to address those problems. In rapid succession, patent experts at the conference will present innovative proposals (ranging from abolishing software patents to company/industry self-help), debate their relative merits, and discuss how they might be implemented. To extend the discussion, many of the speakers and other interested experts will publish short essays in Wired.com describing their proposed solution and advocating for its adoption. We hope conference attendees and Wired.com readers will embrace the best proposals and catalyze real action towards solving the software patent problem.
CLE: This event will qualify for 6 hours of CLE. Santa Clara Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider.
To Register, please visit: https://alumnidirectory.scu.edu/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=897
(subject to change without notice)
8:50 – 9:00 Welcome/Introduction
9:00 – 9:40 Keynote #1: What is the Problem?
- Moderator: Andrew Chin, University of North Carolina
- Richard Stallman, Free Software Foundation
- Kent Walker, Google
9:40 – 10:50 Panel #1: Legal Reform, Part 1
- James Bessen, Boston University School of Law
- Brian Love, Santa Clara University School of Law
- Christal Sheppard, University of Nebraska College of Law
- Colleen Chien, Santa Clara University School of Law
- Commenters: Michael Meurer, Boston University School of Law/Jason Mendelson, Foundry Group
10:50 – 11:05 Break
11:05 – 12:15 Panel #2: Agency Reform
- Peter Menell, UC Berkeley School of Law
- Arti Rai, Duke Law School
- John Allison, McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin
- Michael Risch, Villanova Law School
- Commenters: Amy Landers, McGeorge College of Law/Christina Mulligan, Yale Law School
12:15 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Keynote #2: Views from the Trenches
- Moderator: Kristen Osenga, University of Richmond School of Law
- Drew Hirshfeld, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Honorable Edith Ramirez, Federal Trade Commission
- Honorable Paul Grewal, Northern District of California
2:00 – 3:10 Panel #3: Legal Reform, Part 2
- Mark Lemley, Stanford Law School
- John Duffy, University of Virginia School of Law
- Ted Sichelman, University of San Diego School of Law
- Samson Vermont, University of Miami School of Law
- Commenters: Suzanne Michel, Google/Heidi Keefe, Cooley LLP
3:10 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:40 Panel #4: Self Help
- Keith Bergelt, Open Innovation Network
- Jennifer Urban, UC Berkeley School of Law
- Dan Ravicher, Public Patent Foundation
- Wendy Seltzer, Yale Law School
- Commenters: Brad Burnham, Union Square Ventures/Ben Lee, Twitter
4:40 – 5:20 Keynote #3
- Moderator: Nair Flores, Facebook
- Pam Samuelson, UC Berkeley School of Law
- Julie Samuels, Electronic Frontier Foundation
5:20 Conclusion
5:30 – 6:30 Reception
Co-sponsored by Cooley, LLP, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, IEEE Silicon Valley Section and IEEE Consultants’ Network of Silicon Valley
