Boston Patent Law Association

Founded in Boston in 1924, the Boston Patent Law Association (BPLA) is an organization of intellectual property professionals that has a membership of over 900 individuals. Primarily located in the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the BPLA’s members are a diverse population of attorneys and other professionals in the field of intellectual property law, encompassing trademark, patent, and copyright laws.

Mission

The BPLA, through its volunteer Board of Governors and various committees, provides the IP community educational and social opportunities to exchange information relevant to current patent, trademark and copyright laws. Additionally, the BPLA offers commentary and analysis on legislation that affects the profession.

Officers and Board of Governors

The Board of Governors is a volunteer group of men and women consisting of well educated attorney and non-attorney intellectual property professionals who provide leadership to the BPLA. For 2012, the Board of Governors consists of the following.

Past Presidents

In the history of the BPLA, there have been 59 acting Presidents. Since 1950, Presidents have been chosen for a single 1 one-year term. The President-Elect automatically assumes the position of President of the BPLA at the end of the current President’s Term.

Members

There are three different types of members in the BPLA.

1. Attorney Members: To qualify for Attorney Member status an individual must be an attorney in good standing whose practice focuses on intellectual property law, especially in the areas of patent, trademark and copyright law.
2. Non-Attorney Members: In order to obtain Non-Attorney Member status an individual must meet one of the following criteria: (1) the individual must be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and able to act for an applicant before the Patent Office, (2) the individual must be a current law school student enrolled at an accredited law school, (3) paralegals who are employed by firms or companies who are members of the BPLA and who provide intellectual property based services or (4) individuals who are interested in intellectual property law and who work for organizations that participate in patent, trademark, copyright or other areas of intellectual property law.
3. Life Members: Life Members can be either Attorney or Non-Attorney members but who have reached the age of 70 or above. Life Members enjoy the same membership privileges they had before becoming Life Members.

Annual events

• BPLA Annual Judges Dinner: Held Annually in honor of the Federal Judiciary by the BPLA, this event has a distinguished speaker and the annual BPLA Distinguished Public Service Award is given out to that year’s winner.
• BPLA Annual Writing Competition: Currently enrolled law school students are invited to participate in the BPLA's Annual Writing Competition. Each year students are asked to submit papers relating to relevant topics impacting intellectual property law.

Committees

The standing committees of the BPLA include the following:

• Activities and Public Relations
• AIPLA Moot Court
• Amicus
• Antitrust
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Patent Practice
• Computer Law
• Contested Matters
• Copyright Law
• Corporate (In-House) Practice
• Ethics and Grievances
• International and Foreign Practice
• Licensing
• Litigation
• Medical Devices
• New Lawyers and Law Students
• Patent Law
• Patent Office Practice
• Pro Bono
• Trade Secrets Law
• Trademarks and Unfair Competition

Amicus briefs submitted by BPLA

• Jenzabar, Inc. v. Long Bow Group, Inc. - December 22, 2011
• Association of Molecular Pathology v. United States Patent and Trademark Office - October 29, 2010
• Therasense v. Becton Dickinson - August 2, 2010
• ACLU v. Myriad - January 13, 2010
• In re Bilski - August 5, 2009
• In re Engage - June 12, 2008
• In re Bilski - April 7, 2008
• MedImmune v. Genentech - July 25, 2006
• Laboratory Corp. of America v. Metabolite Labs., Inc. - February 6, 2006
• Merck & Co. v. Teva Pharma. USA, Inc. - September 22, 2005
• Phillips v. AWH Corp. - September 17, 2004

USPTO comments submitted by BPLA

January 30, 2012

Comments in support of Boston as a location for a USPTO satellite office, in response to request for comments at Federal Register Doc. 2011-30717 (November 28, 2011)

March 8, 2010

Comments on Enhancement in the Quality of Patents, in response to request for comment at 74 Federal Regulation 65093 (December 9, 2009), the period for comments having been extended to March 8, 2010 at 75 Fed. Reg. 5040 (February 1, 2010)

February 26, 2010

Comments on BPAI Rules of Practice in Ex Parte Appeals, in Response to Requests for Comment at 74 Fed. Reg. 67987 (Dec. 22, 2009)

November 25, 2009

Comments on Patent Ombudsman Pilot Program, in Response to Request for Comments at 74 Fed. Reg. 55212 (Oct. 27, 2009)

Recipients of the Boston Patent Law Association Distinguished Public Services Award

See also

• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Bar Association
• Intellectual property organizations