AIPLA welcomed for first in-person visit since the pandemic

In June CIPA’s International Liaison Committee (ILC) hosted their first in-person delegation since the start of the pandemic.

International Liaison Committee Chair Tony Rollins and Members of the committee’s North America Working Group welcomed members from the American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (AIPLA). CIPA has a long-standing partnership with AIPLA and has been looking forward to the return of in-person events with international partners.

The visit included a Diversity and Inclusion Breakfast meeting, held at Gray’s Inn in partnership with IP Inclusive. The meeting featured a panel session on Allyship moderated by Marrianne Privett, Co-Lead of IP Ability. Panellists were CIPA Chief Executive Lee Davies, AIPLA Vice-President Ann Mueting, Tum Thatch (AIPLA) and Saiful Khan, representing CIPA Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The meeting was a great opportunity to highlight CIPA’s commitment to EDI and reflect on what we can all do to stand beside and help others in less well-represented groups.

After the breakfast, AIPLA and ILC delegates returned to the CIPA offices for a roundtable policy discussion alongside representatives from CITMA. They discussed a range of pressing topics for the UK and USA, including Amendments to the descriptions, 103 rejections before the PTAB, IP in trade deal negotiations and the post-Brexit landscape for trade marks in the UK.

In the afternoon AIPLA and ILC members provided updates of interest to both UK and American professions. ILC members presented on: Enlarged Board of Appeal activity presented by Nick Noble; update on design protection in the UK presented by USA Working Group Lead Clare Cornell; and UP and UPC updates presented by Howard Read. AIPLA delegate Enrica Bruno spoke on Excluded subject-matter and Ann Mueting & Angelica Andreoli gave an update on Federal Circuit case law.

Date Published: 15 July 2022