RALEIGH, N.C.--Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A. (Myers
Bigel), the largest independent patent law firm in North Carolina, will
lend its expertise to life science professionals at BIO 2013 in Chicago
as it partners with NCBIO at the North Carolina Pavilion, booth #2617,
at McCormick Place April 22-25. Members of the Myers Bigel biotechnology
practice group will be sharing information and best practices in
biotechnology patents including updates on recent changes from the U.S.
Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) and the America Invents Act (AIA).
"The conversion from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file patent system
has definitely led to changes in patent strategy, especially regarding
timing of filing," said Shawna Lemon, Ph.D., a member of the Myers Bigel
biotechnology and pharmaceutical practice groups who will be
representing the firm at the North Carolina Pavilion.
The showcase international event for the biotechnology industry, BIO
2013 is expected to attract 15,000 life-science professionals from 49
states and 65 countries. Presented by the Biotechnology Industry
Organization (BIO), the annual convention serves to educate the public
and policymakers about biotechnology, while fostering partnering
meetings and other business development activities to keep the biotech
industry growing. BIO is a nonprofit association seeking supportive
biotechnology policies on behalf of more than 1,100 biotechnology
companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers, and
related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other
nations.
BIO 2013 will feature 125+ Breakout Sessions and six Super Sessions,
covering topics including how implementation of the AIA is affecting
U.S. and European patent prosecution; what multi-party and cross-border
patent issues are affecting biotech businesses; and strategic
considerations for regulatory approval and patents of biosimilars.
"Patent enforcement is particularly challenging in the biotech field,
given the rapidly advancing technology, as well as the recent changes
in the law that have occurred in the last several years," Peter
Siddoway, an attorney in the Myers Bigel litigation group, said.
"Last year the U.S. Supreme Court significantly altered the scope of
patent-eligible subject matter. This year the Supreme Court has the
opportunity to decide whether to affirm or overturn a new standard for
indirect infringement of a patent. These changes to patent law have a
significant impact on biotech companies seeking to grow their patent
portfolios, enforce their existing patents, and defend against
infringement claims," he explained.
According to Siddoway, until August 2012, infringement of a patent
required that one person or company perform all the elements of the
patent claim. When the Federal Circuit altered this requirement, Myers
Bigel worked with clients to evaluate their existing patent portfolios
in light of this new legal standard and counseled them regarding
possible defensive postures in light of the new, broader scope of
possible indirect infringement liability.
According to Dr. Lemon, whose practice areas include biotechnology,
pharmaceutical, and chemical, a major issue that remains constant
year-in, year-out is the danger of a weak patent or patent application
that is written too narrowly.
"Especially in biotech, you need quality patents that stand up to
scrutiny. Drafting a well-written patent that covers the full scope of
an invention will better enable us to enforce the patent successfully on
behalf of our clients when challenged in court," she explained, adding,
"Because our lawyers have technical backgrounds in the same market
spaces as our clients, we can better relate to inventors and more fully
comprehend the nuances of the technological aspects of the patent
applications we prepare or patents we litigate."
With a B.S. in Biology and Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences (with a
concentration in pharmacology), Dr. Lemon is joined in the Biotechnology
practice group by attorneys Erin Bobay, B.A. in Chemistry and Biology
and Master's in Biochemistry; Alice Bonnen, Ph.D., B.S. and Master's in
Plant Physiology, Doctorate in Plant Pathology; Mary Miller, Ph.D., B.A.
in Microbiology, Doctorate in Philosophy; Sherry Murphy, B.A. in
Neuroscience (with a focus on Molecular Biology, Chemistry and
Mathematics); Adam Rucker, B.S. in Agricultural Biotechnology and
Biology, Master's in Neuroscience; Robert Schwartzman, Ph.D., B.S. in
Chemistry, Doctorate in Pharmacology; and Ken Sibley, B.A. in Biology
and Psychology, Master's in Neurobiology.
Dr. Lemon, in addition to Mary Miller, Ph.D., will be available to
answer queries about biotech patent issues at the North Carolina
Pavilion, booth #2617.
With a full-service IP practice, Myers Bigel provides expertise in
all intellectual property areas, including trademarks, copyrights, and
patents, with attorneys well-versed in prosecution and litigation to
enforce or defend patent, trademark and copyright claims.
Operating out of the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina,
Myers Bigel represents corporate and university clients located in the
Carolinas, throughout the Southeast, across the United States, and in
Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.myersbigel.com.
About Myers Bigel
Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A. (Myers Bigel) is an intellectual
property law firm combining patent law expertise with a stable
continuity of counsel to produce quality patents that stand up to
scrutiny. We are the largest independent patent law firm in North
Carolina, continually ranked among the top national firms by
well-respected legal media and industry organizations. Our
knowledgeable, vibrant team of attorneys with degreed technical
experience successfully acquires, protects, enforces and defends patent
assets and intellectual property in a variety of fields including
biotechnology, chemistry, electronics and computing, mechanical, and
trademark practice groups, as well as in litigation. Headquartered in
Raleigh in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, with
clients spanning the globe, we remain active in symposia, seminars, and
continuing education efforts to further best practices in intellectual
property protection and enforcement. For more information on our high
quality work visit www.myersbigel.com.
