Texas (TX) Patent Law CLE Course Catalog

As business continues to evolve into a more globalized workforce, GCs are being tasked with setting up international offices, aligning resources and coverage, and deciding where to build out legal teams. Understanding cross borders Communications and cultural differences have become business essential, not just to get deals done, but also to maintain strong cross-border partnerships. Join our panelists as they discuss the role of legal in international relations, and share their expertise and lived experiences with all international business dealings.

To thrive amidst uncertainties and the constant pressures facing startups, such companies should be well-versed in any developments surrounding patent laws and best practices to successfully navigate through legal complexities, build sound patent portfolios, and recognize common pitfalls which could result in long-term repercussions. Join experienced patent attorneys Robert Plotkin (Blueshift IP) and Mehdi Sheikerz (Staas & Halsey LLP) as they provide a comprehensive discussion of the latest trends and developments surrounding patent laws. Speakers, among other things, will also offer practical tips and strategies for managing patent portfolios for startups.

Conversations around generative artificial intelligence are dominating the social stratosphere. By simulating human cognitive thinking, generative AI can produce new types of text, imagery, audio, and synthetic data by using patterns and informational elements obtained from prior works. Because generative AI often relies on pools of data and third-party creations to create new content, there is a concern that generative AI may, whether intentionally or inadvertently, exploit copyright-protected content to develop purportedly original content. Organizations that leverage generative AI tools should be mindful of how the tools are used in a commercial context to mitigate the risk of infringing uses. Likewise, owners of intellectual property should be aware of how their works are used by generative AI models and the users of these tools, and timely action should be taken to defend intellectual property against infringement.

What is the difference between a design patent and a utility patent and which receives more protection under federal law? Peter Afrasiabi answers this question while explaining the key aspects of patent law, common defenses to patent claims including functionality, obviousness, invalidity/prior art and potential damages in the context of famous patent cases involving Apple, LA Gear, Crocs, Nike and Columbia Sportswear. Peter also shares valuable practice pointers for lawyers grappling with patent issues and claims.

With a nod to Simon & Garfunkel, veteran patent litigator William O’Brien takes you through 15 ways to win – and 10 ways to lose - your patent case. Drawing upon decades of experience representing both patent plaintiffs and defendants in federal district courts, the Federal Circuit, the International Trade Commission, and, more recently, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, this program guides you through the critical issues you must consider at every stage to ensure that you obtain the best outcome for your company or your clients whenever important patents are in dispute.

Law firms on the cutting edge of combining internal law firm data with public datasets will describe their use cases and share their secrets for improving substantive work-product and developing new business. We’ll discuss how firms have married state and federal litigation dockets, patent and trademark prosecution dockets, new lawsuit feeds, and public and private data on deals (e.g., M&A) — all to build workflows for: (1) analytics and research (2) better RFPs, (3) experience databases, and (4) user-driven development.