Samuel Broda
Current and Proposed Mechanisms for Prior Art Submission

Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Building 3 Auditorium - 3:30 PM
(Refreshments at 3:00 PM)

Advances in Internet-based methods of collaboration have produced both technological and business models that have greatly increased productivity in the American economy. Recently a number of academic and business professionals have proposed a collaborative process in which members of the public pool together their knowledge and locate potential prior art. The Office is currently developing a pilot program in cooperation with academic researchers to test whether such collaboration can effectively locate prior art that might not otherwise be located by the Office during the typical examination process, or in less time. This talk will describe the proposed legal and technical mechanics for the pilot. Additionally, some of the resulting legal issues will be compared to current procedures for interested parties to submit prior art either in a pending application or with regard to a previously issued patent.

Samuel Broda graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in June 1986, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Following additional graduate courses in statistics and employment as an insurance actuary, Mr. Broda enrolled in 1991 at the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley. Following graduation from Boalt and admittance to the California State Bar in 1994, Mr. Broda practiced intellectual property and employment law in Richmond, California. He joined the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1998, and was appointed Primary Examiner in 2003 in Art Unit 2123, Simulation/Emulation and Mathematical Modeling. Mr. Broda was promoted to Legal Advisor in the Office of Patent Legal Administration in 2005 and provides advice primarily with respect to computer technology legal issues and with respect to Office programs to enhance automated patent application, examination, and administration

IS&T Colloquium Committee Host: Ben Kobler

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