The Computer Technology Summer Seminar

Audience

All

Programme & Speakers

• 12:30 - 13:30 - Registration & Networking Lunch
• 13:30 - 13:40 - Introduction from the chair

  Speakers

  

  Simon Davies, Chair of Computer Technology Committee and Director Altair IP

  Simon Davies, Chair of Computer Technology Committee and Director Altair IP

  Simon is chair of the CIPA computer technology committee and a director of Altair IP.  He has many years of experience working across the full spectrum of computing and has also performed research in electrical engineering and high energy astrophysics.  He started his career as a patent attorney with IBM and was a partner for many years at D Young & Co LLP.

• 13:40 - 14:25 - Quantum Computing

  Speakers

  

  Markus Volkmer, EPO

  Markus Volkmer, EPO

  Markus Volkmer is an Examiner at the EPO, The Hague, in Team 1203 – Core AI & Quantum Computing 2. He is also a member of the Working group on the Guidelines for Computer-Implemented-Inventions. Since joining the EPO in 2007, he works in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Quantum Computing. Markus has a computer science/engineering background (Dipl.-Inform./Dr.-Ing.).

• 14:25 - 15:00 - No search reports

  Speakers

  

  Parminder Lally, Appleyard Lees

  Parminder Lally, Appleyard Lees

  Parminder is a UK and European patent attorney and a Partner at Appleyard Lees. She joined the patent profession in 2011 and specialises in drafting and prosecuting patent applications for computer-implemented inventions, including AI.

  Parminder is currently a member of CIPA Council, the Chair of CIPA’s Education Committee (EdCom) and on CIPA’s Computer Technology Committee. Parminder is particularly passionate about ensuring student members have access to training and learning opportunities, and support, wherever they work or are based. In her spare time, she writes her brAIn blog and tries to grow her own veg

  

  Iain Russell, Russell IP

  Iain Russell, Russell IP

  Iain Russell is not a typical patent attorney! He’s worked in several private practices, in-house at an innovation consultancy, and now runs his own IP practice. He’s set up numerous businesses, ventures and projects, including several exam training offerings for trainee patent attorneys, a free online IP job board, a patent forward citation analytics platform, a networking group for IP professionals in solo and small IP practices, and a not-for-profit organisation that raises money for public access defibrillators through the power of music. He’s also an inventor with around 30 granted patents ranging from drones to dishwashers, and recently sold his drone patent portfolio.

  

  Phil Thorpe, UK IPO

  Phil Thorpe, UK IPO

  Phil Thorpe is a Deputy Director at the UK Intellectual Property Office with responsibility for patent practice.  He is also an inter-partes hearing officer and has responsibility for the IPO’s Opinion Service During his 30 years with the IPO, Phil has been heavily involved in IP policy including representing the UK in the TRIPS Council. He has been seconded to the EU Commission where among other things he worked on the Community Patent Regulation and was also seconded to the secretariat for the UK Commission on Intellectual Property Rights.

• 15:00 - 15:30 - Refreshment Break
• 15:30 - 16:15 - Generative AI

  Speakers

  

  Ignaz Kowalczuk, ElevenLabs

  Ignaz Kowalczuk, ElevenLabs

  Ignaz is a growth strategist at ElevenLabs and he was the company’s first hire. In the early stages of the company’s development, Ignaz oversaw communications, growth, and legal projects. He is currently focused on widening the company’s reach and on the legal side of operations. Prior to joining ElevenLabs, Ignaz worked in advertising. He holds a degree in law from King’s College London.

• 16:15 - 17:00 - Generative AI in patents and beyond- Panel Discussion

  Speakers

  

  Rachel Free, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP

  Rachel Free, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP

  Dr Rachel Free is a partner and UK / European patent attorney in the London Office Intellectual Property department. Rachel uses her technical background in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, software and telecommunications to assist clients protect their technology through patents in this complex and changing area of patent law. She uses her in-house experience to help clients with patent harvesting and identifying inventions as well as with drafting patent applications suitable for prosecution in many jurisdictions including the US and Europe. She represents clients in oral proceedings at the European and UK patent offices.

  Rachel has patent experience in a range of technical fields including neural networks, data centre storage, multi-core systems, cryptography, programming languages, information retrieval, machine learning, quantum computing, internet of things, time of flight cameras, natural user interface technology, image processing, infra-red sensors, wireless communications, voice over internet protocol, video codecs, cloud computing technology, mobile phone antennas, software and telecommunications.

  Rachel is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and a member of its Computer Technology Committee. She has lectured for CIPA and acted as an Examiner for CIPA.

  

  Edward Bray, Added Matter

  Edward Bray, Added Matter

  Edward is a UK and European Patent Attorney focussed on software, natural language processing and AI. Before founding Added Matter, Edward spent almost a decade in private practice, including at Marks & Clerk.

  Outside Added Matter, Edward codes in his spare time, and is an all-round AI evangelist.

  Edward has a degree in physics.

• 17:00-17:10 Closing Remarks

  Speakers

  

  Simon Davies, Chair of Computer Technology Committee and Director Altair IP

  Simon Davies, Chair of Computer Technology Committee and Director Altair IP

  Simon is chair of the CIPA computer technology committee and a director of Altair IP.  He has many years of experience working across the full spectrum of computing and has also performed research in electrical engineering and high energy astrophysics.  He started his career as a patent attorney with IBM and was a partner for many years at D Young & Co LLP.

• 17:10 - 19:00 - Drinks reception with canapes