------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1993 12:59:28 -0800 From: Jim Warren Subject: File 7--More about 1/94 & 2/94 PTO SOFTWARE-PATENTS HEARINGS Tracked down a bit more on the January and February Patent & Trademark Office hearings on software patents - so-called, software-related inventions: Today (12/20), the Federal Register apparently [finally] carries the public notice of the meetings - reportedly drafted and ready for publication at the end of November. I am awaiting fax and electronic copies of it and will post and e-distribute it after I get it. For your very own original copy however, send email to kushan@uspto.gov and put the following in the subject-line: fr notice request (requests an electronic copy of the official Federal Register notice). The person apparently responsible for organizing the hearings is: Jeff Kushan [NOT Kushman], Esq. Legal and International Intellectual Property Specialist Office of Legislation and International Affairs U. S. Patent and Trademark Office voice/703-305-9300; fax/703-305-8885; email/kushan@uspto.gov He seemed knowledgable, was cordial, appeared frustrated by the delay in the [required] Federal Register notice publication, and I had the impression that he and/or the PTO has received more than a little heat and fury over software-patent problems (though he made no such specific statement). Reporters and press can contact Ruth Ford in the PTO Public Affairs Office at 703-305-8600 (East Coast time, of course). I am faxing a large list of trade and lay-press technology reporters to Kushan, as soon as I can dig it out. This msg is being BLIND-copied to a number of technology reporters, as well as a number of others who may be sensitive about their e-addrs being in the msg header.] The hearings will be Jan 26-27 (San Jose) and Feb 11-12 (Arlington), before Patent Commissioner Bruce Lehman, senior PTO staff, some Dept. of Commerce staff and/or officials, and probably others - specifics still being planned. Speakers will probably be limited to 7-12 minutes, but will be permitted and encouraged to submit more extensive written comments, before and for a limited period of time after the hearings. +++++++++++ While I was uploading the previous msg, the fax-copy of the official notice of the software-patent hearings arrived - 22 pages, plus cover-sheet. Just checked with Kushan; he sez he sent an electronic copy to me (but I have to check into a different machine to dissect it from my mound of email). Given its length and electronic availability -- those wishing a copy, please request it directly from Kushan at PTO. By email to kushan@uspto.gov, use a subject-line stating, "fr notice request" . --jim Jim Warren, 415-851-7075 == Please copy, post and recirculate, widely. == =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ + END THIS FILE + +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+===+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=