SOLO practitioners meet the IPO

BIS HQ 1 Victoria Street

Save the date Wednesday 9 April from 3 to 17:30. This is your opportunity as a small customer of the IPO to get to know their plans and provide some feedback. Its bound to be educational and so IPREG CPD and a good opportunity to meet together with others in a similar situation.

Its being held at BIS HQ and to reserve your place you only need to email with your name, firm and indication of interests by 26^th March 2014.

I have said I am interested in  the opinions service and how the new post IP Bill improvements are expected to work as well as the Trademark opposition process.  These are the topics that might come up if you suggest them

• Patent Prosecution Highway
• Opinions service and mediation
• Update and questions on the Unitary Patent and Court
• Update and questions on the IP Bill 
• IPO Electronic Services - recent and forthcoming changes to IPO services 
• Service issues you are currently experiencing and your suggestions for service improvement 
• Search and examination targets and practice 
• Excluded matter - e.g. Computer programs 
• Bio-technology 
• Accelerated services  (you must have noticed the new .gov format consultation on going two track again on trade marks)
• Colour drawings 
• Section 20 compliance period 
• Electronic citations 
• Excessive claims
• Patent Box
• Guidance for small firms and obtaining finance 

I look forward to seeing you there. Even if you only do patents or trademarks and not both it makes sense to come and pick up a few contacts for your cast offs.

This is part of the customer visit programme run by the UK IPO . There is a full report of how they got on last year here

Suggestions for a drinks sponsor or a nearby watering hole to facilitate networking welcome. Add a comment if you are coming but don't forget to email to get through security on the day and to ensure your place.