From left to right: Mary Webster, Lawrence Sung, and Ted Poehler, CapSci 2006
On Sunday, March 26, SIPPI was invited to host a symposium for the Washington Academy of Sciences' biannual event, Capital Science (CapSci). The symposium addressed the effects of patent reform legislation on the conduct of scientific research. The following abstract provided the basis for the discussion:
Major patent reform legislation is on the horizon in U.S. lawmaking. Currently, the Patent Reform Act (H.R. 2795)-introduced in 2005, proposes sweeping changes to current patent law which, if adopted, will likely affect the conduct of academic research, the dissemination of knowledge, and the accessibility of that knowledge in the public domain. One such change is from the "first to invent" to the more universal "first inventor to file" system that might increase competition for patents as well as shorten the grace period after a publication to apply for a patent. Would such a change lead researchers to concentrate more on patenting than publishing? The other change would redefine what constitutes "prior art"-the body of preexisting, publicly-accessible knowledge for which patents are unavailable. Though scarcely discussed but no less important an issue in patent reform, that redefinition could have significant or unforeseen consequences for the placement of scientific knowledge in the public domain. This session brings together the perspectives of multiple experts on the "first to file" and "prior art" aspects of the Patent Reform Act. Speakers will address whether those proposed changes represent major areas of concern to the scientific community and, if so, what potential effects the changes could have on the conduct of scientific research. Ample time will be allowed for members of the audience to pose questions and to participate in the discussion.
Invited speakers included the following (click here to read their biographies):
Mary S. Webster, Partner, Schwartz Sung & Webster
Lawrence M. Sung, Ph.D., JD, Professor of Law, University of Maryland School of Law, and Partner, Schwartz Sung & Webster
Theodore O. Poehler, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research, Johns Hopkins University
From left to right: Mary Webster, Lawrence Sung, and Ted Poehler, CapSci
2006