US Bar/JPO Liaison Council Meeting

On November 9, 2017, the US Bar/JPO Liaison Council delegates met with 18 judges of the Japanese IP High Court in Tokyo, Japan.  The Liaison Council gave presentations providing updates on U.S. law.  Osha Liang Associate Ko Nakamura, representing the Houston Bar Association, gave a detailed presentation on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding patent exhaustion in Impression Products, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc.   Judge Okada, Judge Katase, and Judge Tatsubumi presented on patent litigation and patent exhaustion in Japan.  JPO Deputy Commissioner Kunihiko Shimano joined the Liaison Council members and the IP High Court judges for a reception after the meeting.

On November 10, 2017, the US Bar/JPO Liaison Council delegates met with Deputy Commissioner Shimano and other members of the JPO.  Osha Liang associate Ko Nakamura gave a presentation updating the JPO on recent Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court decisions.  Members of the JPO gave presentations regarding the USPTO-JPO Collaborative Search Pilot Program, the “Internet of Things,” and Patent Harmonization.

The US Bar/JPO Liaison Council meets annually with JPO leadership and is made up of more than 50 delegates representing local, state, and national bar groups across the United States.

See below for pictures of the event: