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Patent Information Users Group, Inc.

The International Society for Patent Information Professionals

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Patent Information Users Group, Inc.  The International Society for Patent Information Professionals


Program

The PIUG is pleased to announce the Plenary Sessions for the PIUG 2020 Annual Conference. When planning your virtual trip to the conference, please keep the following events in mind so that you do not miss out on any valuable opportunities.

PLEASE BE ADVISED that attendees and speakers who are not members of PIUG will not have post-conference access to the conference presentations posted on the PIUG wiki, which is a PIUG member benefit. To enable post-conference access to PIUG conference presentations, and to also save significantly on PIUG conference registration fees, BECOME A MEMBER of PIUG by going to the PIUG Membership page.

Schedule at a Glance

  • Monday, October 26: Vendor-sponsored workshops, followed by a Welcome Reception (get a first-hand look at how to navigate the Conference platform)
  • Tuesday - Thursday, October 27-29: Plenary sessions
  • Friday, October 30: STN Patent Forum

See the Conference Overview page for additional information.

Plenary Schedule

Day

Time (Eastern)

Speaker

Title

Monday

3:00pm - 4:00pm

Sponsored by PIUG

Overview of Meeting App & Social Time





Tuesday

8:15am - 8:30am

Martha Yates

Welcome

Tuesday

8:30am - 9:00am

Tom Otterlee, Siemens Energy

Does Searching Create Willfulness? A More Interesting Question Following Halo

Tuesday

9:00am - 9:10am

Stockdale Award Presentation


Tuesday

9:10am - 9:40am

Debra L. Banville

Moving Beyond White Space

Tuesday

9:40am - 9:50am

Derwent Product Review; STN Product Review


Tuesday

9:50am - 10:20am

Linus Wretblad, Uppdragshuset

Evaluation & Best Practice of Semantic AI Based Prior Art Search Tools; Insights, Pitfalls and Tricks

Tuesday

10:20am - 10:30am

BizInt Product Review ;  EPO Product Review

Tuesday

10:30am - 11:00am

Stephen Adams, Magister Ltd., UK

Workshop: There May be Trouble Ahead; Understanding IP Procedures, the Musical Way (Part 1)

Tuesday

11:00am - 11:45am

Breakouts for Vendors

Gold and Silver sponsors and EPO

Tuesday

11:45am - 12:15pm

Breakout Session

Virtual Water Cooler/Lunch

Tuesday

12:15pm - 12:35pm


Stu Kaback Award presentation and talk

Tuesday

12:35pm - 12:45pm

Board Retirements; PIUG 2021 Annual Conference Announcement and Evaluation Survey


Tuesday

12:45pm - 1:15pm

Paul Torpey, Derwent

Enhancing patent research with Flexible data-driven products

Tuesday

1:15pm - 1:25pm

Thank You to Volunteers; PIUG Service Award – Tony Trippe


Tuesday

1:25pm - 1:55pm

Paul Peters, CAS

High Precision Search Techniques in STNext for Formulation Searches

Tuesday

1:55pm - 2:05pm

Service Award – Leah Sandvoss; PIUG Service Award – Kim Miller


Tuesday

2:05pm - 2:35pm

Heather Simmons, University of Georgia School of Law Library

Is it Prior Art? Establishing the Publicly Accessible Date

Tuesday

2:35pm - 2:45pm

Member Relations Committee Highlights; Partnerships & Patent Offices Committee Highlights

Tuesday

2:45pm - 3:15pm

Doreen P. Alberts, Theravance Biopharma US, Inc.

Artificial Intelligence: You Complete Me

Tuesday

3:15pm - 4:00pm

 

Social Hour Breakouts--The Lobby Bar





Wednesday

8:15am - 8:30am

Martha Yates

Welcome

Wednesday

8:30am - 9:00am

Iustin Diaconescu, WIPO

PATENTSCOPE, a Comprehensive Prior Art Search Tool

Wednesday

9:00am - 9:10am

Questel Product Review; STN Product Review

Wednesday

9:10am - 9:40am

Johannes Schaaf, EPO

Patent Statistics and Analysis for Competition Monitoring

Wednesday

9:40am - 9:50am

GenomeQuest Product Review; Derwent Product Review


Wednesday

9:50am - 10:20am

Mussadiq Hussain, WIPO

The New WIPO INSPIRE Platform

Wednesday

10:20am - 10:30am

Minesoft Product Review; CPA Global Product Review


Wednesday

10:30am - 11:00am

Stephen Adams, Magister Ltd., UK

Workshop: There May be Trouble Ahead; Understanding IP Procedures, the Musical Way (Part 2)

Wednesday

11:00am - 11:45am

Breakouts for Vendors

Bronze sponsors

Wednesday

11:45am - 12:15am

Breakout Session

Virtual Water Cooler/Lunch

Wednesday

12:15am - 12:35am

John Willmore, BizInt Solutions

Not Just Duplicates – Challenges in Identifying Non-patent Literature Articles Across Databases

Wednesday

12:35pm - 12:45pm

Ambercite Product Review; BizInt Product Review


Wednesday

12:45pm - 1:25pm

Yateen Pargaonkar and Edlyn Simmons

Patent Trends Disrupted – Increasing Confidence in your Patenting Trends Analysis and Visualizations

Wednesday

1:25pm - 1:35pm

PCT Korea Center Product Review; PIUG 2021 Annual Conference Announcement and Evaluation Survey


Wednesday

1:35pm - 2:05pm

Skye McClain, Mc2 Research Group LLC

Using Advanced Metrics and Visualizations to Identify Key Inventions and Industry Leaders in Patent Landscape Analyses

Wednesday

2:05pm - 2:50pm

Breakouts for Vendors

Gold and Silver and Other Exhibitors

Wednesday

2:50pm - 4:00pm

 

Social Hour Breakouts--The Lobby Bar





Thursday

8:15am - 8:30am

Martha Yates

Welcome

Thursday

8:30am - 9:00am

Peter Fischer, Elute Intelligence

Forensic Linguistics to Complement AI and Traditional Search Solutions

Thursday

9:00am - 9:10am

Derwent Product Review; Certification Committee Highlights


Thursday

9:10am - 9:50am

Brad Buehler and Jonathan Skovholt, Ensemble IP

AI and Machine Learning in Patent Search Systems: Friend or Foe?

Thursday

9:50am - 10:00am

STN Product Review; BizInt Product Review

 

Thursday

10:00am - 10:20am

Lutz Mailänder, PCT International Cooperation Division, WIPO

Framework of Technical Competencies for Search and Examination of Patents

Thursday

10:20am - 10:50am

Lutz Mailander

Q&A and Breakout Session About Certification

Thursday

10:50am - 11:00am

Education & Training Committee Highlights


Thursday

11:00am - 11:30am

Youngbok Ryu, New Mexico Tech

The Impact of Industrial Context on the Patenting Activity of Technology-based Small Businesses

Thursday

11:30am - 11:40am

PIUG Volunteer Panel Discussion


Thursday

12:00pm - 12:30pm

Davit Khachatryan, Babson College

Overview of AI Innovation in Academia: Recent Development and Collaborations Patterns

Thursday

12:30pm - 12:40pm

Volunteer Recruitment Committee Highlights


Thursday

12:40pm - 1:10pm

Vasheharan (Vashe) Kanesarajah, Derwent

Patent Information 4.0: The Future of the Information Professional

Thursday

1:10pm - 1:20pm

PIUG 2021 Annual Conference Announcement and Evaluation Survey


Thursday

1:20pm - 1:50pm

Ron Kaminecki

Searching for Changes in Technology and Patent Law

Thursday

1:50pm - 2:00pm

Martha Yates

Conference Wrap-up

Thursday

2:00pm - 3:00pm

 

The Lobby Bar After Party






Conference Abstracts and Biographies

Does Searching Create Willfulness? A More Interesting Question Following Halo

Tom Otterlee, Siemens Energy

Abstract

Prior to the Supreme Court's decision in Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc., et al. an alleged infringer of a patent could avoid willful infringement, and the possibility of treble damages by simply showing a reasonable defense (non-infringement or invalidity) during a trial, or immediately prior to the trial. In Halo, the Supreme Court changed several aspects of the existing law including the time at which the alleged infringer should establish its non-infringement or invalidity position. This shift has potentially created an additional burden on entities that do periodic technology or competitor searches as well as patentability searches.

Biography

Thomas Otterlee is a Senior IP Counsel at Siemens Energy, Inc. located in Orlando, FL. Prior to joining Siemens, Mr. Otterlee practiced for seventeen years with Michael Best & Friedrich in Milwaukee, WI. Mr. Otterlee's practice includes all aspects of patent preparation and prosecution as well as patentability, clearance, and invalidity analysis. In addition, Mr. Otterlee's practice includes periodic patent searching and monitoring of clients and their competitors as well as the preparation of legal opinions.

Moving Beyond White Space

Debra L. Banville

Abstract

When discussing a patent landscape, have you ever been asked: "So, where is the white space? Where are the opportunities for us to innovate?". Identifying White Space Innovation is like asking someone to "tell me something I don't know." Tackling these questions requires a multifaceted approach that starts with the patent landscape but requires a way to explore and reveal new perspectives. This talk will guide you through a framework and examples of how you can move beyond white space questions to identify emerging trends and high-value opportunities.

Biography

Debra L. Banville is an independent consultant with an entrepreneurial mindset focused on identifying and developing new opportunities in close partnership with clients. Debra draws on her experience in DuPont's Science & Innovation group supporting multiple businesses across diverse technology areas. Before DuPont, Debra was a Principal Investigator at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, where she led the NMR research laboratory in identifying and optimizing lead compounds using NMR. She also led several successful academic collaborations that included an MRI Stroke study with Duke University and research on Interleukin-5 (IL-5) with the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Eventually, Debra gravitated to the emerging area of text data mining to discover new opportunities. She edited a book on chemical information mining (CRC Press), has spoken at various conferences, and has authored many peer-reviewed articles.

Debra has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, is certified as a Project Manager Professional (PMP) with a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma (from DEMEP), and certified as a Competitive Intelligence Professional (CIP).

Evaluation & Best Practice of Semantic AI Based Prior Art Search Tools; Insights, Pitfalls and Tricks

Linus Wretblad, Uppdragshuset

Abstract

The semantic AI-text-based search methodologies adds a new option to the searcher's toolbox for helping to explore the prior art. However, opening up the nice wrapping of promises and having this new AI tool at my hands, what do I do then? What is the difference to a regular Boolean search? Seeming, we don't have much of instruction manuals teaching us how to use it efficiently.

This presentation will take a glimpse under the hood and look into best practices. It will include a review of performance statistics, quality measurements and, last but not least, usage challenges. Finally, some personal thoughts on the future; what to expect next in the field of information retrieval and how the searcher's role might evolve onwards.

Biography

Linus Wretblad has 20 years of experience supporting IPR and innovation processes, starting as an examiner at the Swedish Patent office, now focusing on prior art searches methodologies and supportive tools. He has a Master of Science in Physics & Electronics and a French DEA degree in microelectronics, and additional MBA studies on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He was the president of the Confederacy of European Patent Information User Groups (CEPIUG) 2015-2017 and currently one of the board members of the ISBQPIP for certification of Patent Information Professionals. Linus is the co-founder of Uppdragshuset, providing high-end patent information search services. He is recently involved in a EUROSTAR project with the Technical University of Vienna on AI supported information retrieval, resulting in IPscreener offering a platform for semantic AI text based screening of patent prior art.

Workshop: There May be Trouble Ahead; Understanding IP Procedures, the Musical Way

Stephen Adams, Magister Ltd., UK

Abstract

The classic musicals may have more to teach us about IP than we think. Worldwide legal processes have implications for the professional searcher/analyst, affecting our ability to retrieve or understand patent data, either in bulk or at the level of the individual record. We will discover whether any dream will do in all jurisdictions, the importance of filing where the winner takes it all, being prepared to be a big spender, overcoming when smoke gets in your eyes and ensuring that you can indeed dance all night when your case is granted.

Biography

Stephen Adams is the managing director of Magister Ltd., a UK-based consultancy specialising in patents information. Mr. Adams is a Qualified Patent Information Professional (number 20190044100092) and holds a B.Sc. in chemistry from the University of Bristol and an M.Sc. in Information Science from City University, London, as well as professional membership of the UK's Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). He has been the representative for UK user groups on the information sub-committee of the Standing Advisory Committee to the EPO (SACEPO/PDI) for many years, as well as contributing to the work of the Committee on WIPO Standards (CWS) on behalf of the PIUG. He is the author of two editions of "Information Sources in Patents", published by Walter de Gruyter KG. He received the IPI Award in 2012 for outstanding contribution to patent information.

Patent Information 4.0: The Future of the Information Professional

Paul Torpey, Derwent

Abstract

  1. Introduction
    1. Future of Patent information (clean & structured data, derived metrics)
    2. Why it’s important to provide flexible access to data

    Further, this presentation will also outline focus areas that should be considered to ensure that the value of patent research is embedded within the fabric of the organization.

  2. What’s next for Derwent
  3. Product roadmap (mention that workshop will cover DI, and this session will focus on new initiatives
    1. Cloud projects – Chem workbench, 5G
    2. Analytics – derived metrics
    3. Touch on CPA
    4. Testing and validation – who can participate.

Biography

Pending

High Precision Search Techniques in STNext for Formulation Searches

Paul Peters, CAS

Abstract

IP searching for formulations is challenging for patent analysts and IP searchers due to the time required to review the high number of documents and the risk of false positives. See how starting your formulations search with CAS FORMULATIONS in STNext can save you time and enable you to be efficient and precise in your novelty, patentability, infringement and FTO searches.

Biography

Paul Peters has been working for CAS for over 24 years. After earning his Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering, he worked in the library of the Netherlands Occupational Health and Safety organization. After gaining familiarity with first generation online searching tools, he worked as a workshop instructor for STN in the Netherlands for 7 years. During this time he trained over 500 examiners of the European Patent Office in doing patentability and novelty searching in chemistry and related fields. In 1995 he joined CAS as a regional sales manager and soon thereafter became the director of sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has been involved in several European patent information interest groups, like PDG, PATCOM, CEPIUG and several national groups. Paul now leads the staff in the US and Europe who provide customer training for all CAS products. Paul also coordinates the activities of the technical training staff in Asia and Latin America.

Is it Prior Art? Establishing the Publicly Accessible Date

Heather Simmons, University of Georgia School of Law Library

Abstract

This presentation will explore the definition of prior art in U.S. law, and examine the use of non-patent literature to meet this requirement. One of the challenges in admitting prior art to a court is establishing the "publicly available" date. Introducing this information as evidence can be harder than it sounds. Libraries and librarians often play an important role in determining when a particular publication becomes accessible. The record keeping and standard operating procedures that are the hallmarks of any library can win or lose the case.

Biography

Heather J.E. Simmons joined the University of Georgia School of Law Alexander Campbell King Law Library in 2019 as its Associate Director for Instruction and Access Services. She previously worked at the University of Illinois College of Law's Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Memorial Law Library, as the Law and Business Reference Librarian. She spent 17 years at General Motors, where she was Senior Law Librarian, and a Group Leader in the Research & Development Library. She also served as the Assistant Director of the Arthur Neff Law Library at Wayne State University. Simmons earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University and her Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, and is active in PIUG and the American Association of Law Libraries.

Artificial Intelligence: You Complete Me.

Doreen P. Alberts, Theravance Biopharma US, Inc.

Abstract

Despite the increased investment in drug development, the number of drug approvals remains flat. The availability of machine-readable data, improved computer capabilities and sophisticated algorithms make artificial intelligence (AI) an attractive tool to speed up the drug development process. A number of collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and AI vendors have shown the power of AI in generating unbiased insights which might help improve the quality of our research projects, shorten drug development times and increase the probability of drug approvals.

As the amount of published literature increases, AI technologies can transform our role as information professionals. We are uniquely positioned to be liaisons between our researchers and data scientists. We can help translate scientific questions to enable data scientists to build mathematical models that can analyze huge amounts of information in a short time. AI is not here to eliminate jobs. Instead, we need to be proactive in identifying how we can optimize AI for our benefit and leverage these technologies to help us stay relevant and be better as information professionals.

Biography

Doreen Alberts is Director of Product Strategy and Commercial Planning Department at Theravance Biopharma US, Inc. (TBPH). TBPH is a pharmaceutical company focused in the areas of inflammation and immunology, with a pipeline of internally discovered programs targeted to address significant patient needs. Doreen is responsible for managing the following functions at TBPH: Patent and Literature searching, Library Services, Document Delivery, Competitive Intelligence, Medical Information and End-user education and training.

Doreen has a BA in Chemistry, minor in Economics from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to working for Theravance, Doreen worked for SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) as a medicinal chemist for 11 years, and as an information analyst for 2 years. In June 2019, she received her Artificial Intelligence Strategy Certificate from the University of California Berkeley School of Information.

PATENTSCOPE, a Comprehensive Prior Art Search Tool

Iustin Diaconescu-WIPO

Abstract

PATENTSCOPE has become a comprehensive patent search tool used by the general public, patent search professionals, and IP offices. The system, which is the WIPO's authoritative platform of information on published PCT applications, features a couple of unique functionalities, such as CLIR, WIPO translate, and Chemical Search. Recently, a modern UI, the PCT simple patent families, the CPC search capabilities, truly global coverage, and the new Markush search made it an essential asset in the prior art search domain.

The presentation will focus on the new features: the UI interface, the patent families, the CPC searches, and the Markush search implementation.

Biography

Iustin Diaconescu is a software engineer working for WIPO in Geneva as the head of the Patent Database Section. He has worked with document management and retrieval systems since 2000. He architectured and engineered complex web systems for several international organizations as WTO and WHO. Since 2008, he has been actively involved in the design, implementation, and management of PATENTSCOPE, which is the WIPO's authoritative source of information on published PCT applications.

Adrian holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics, and he received his master's degree in computer science from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland.

Patent Statistics and Analysis for Competition Monitoring

Johannes Schaaf, EPO

Abstract

The patent portfolio of the competition can be examined with the help of patent information as basis for strategic decisions in technology and product management. It will be explained how key patents can be examined in detail with a publicly available tool such as the new Espacenet and how the technological orientation and filing strategy of competitors can be analysed using filter functions. It will also be shown how more complex patent analyses can be carried out by other means, e.g. looking at the opposition rate and age distribution of the active patent portfolio and how global statistical analyses with automatic ranking of the most important actors or the most cited technologies can be carried out.

Biography

Johannes Schaaf holds an MBA and a master's degree in physics. He worked as an engineer and innovation consultant in the corporate technology unit at Siemens and led the community of practice innovation management. He was an examiner in the area of laser technology at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. In 2005, he joined the European Patent Office in Vienna and now works in the directorate Patent Knowledge Promotion, PATLIB.

The New WIPO INSPIRE Platform

Mussadiq Hussain, WIPO

Abstract

WIPO INSPIRE (Index of Specialized Patent Information Reports) is an online platform to assist patent information users and professionals, including national patent offices and Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs), by providing reports and analysis of patent search databases, tools and systems from around the world. WIPO collaborates with patent information service providers and user groups to publish reports on free-of-charge and commercial patent and non-patent databases reviewing their features, functionalities and coverage in a structured format.

The WIPO INSPIRE platform has been designed to include up-to-date, user-friendly and interactive features and functionalities, such as comparison of up to four databases or search systems at a glance and an interactive world map allowing the user to click and see the data coverage of a specific jurisdiction. Further development is envisaged in the future to include more resources and services, as well as integrating other relevant tools and platforms, including WIPO's eTISC knowledge and experience sharing platform, the Patent Register Portal and a new technology transfer forum.

Biography

Mr. Mussadiq Hussain joined World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 1997 and has been engaged in its different areas of activities and services since then. Currently, he is positioned as Program Officer in the Innovation and Knowledge Infrastructure Department of WIPO. He is responsible for developing and managing platforms, systems and tools (i.e. WIPO INSPIRE, eTISC, Patent Register Portal etc.) to support patent information users and professionals, including national patent offices and Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs) in the WIPO member states. He coordinates with patent information service providers and user groups to publish reports on free-of-charge and commercial patent and non-patent databases. Moreover, he manages the development and maintenance of the TISC project support systems and platforms and coordinates with Research4Life partners on behalf of WIPO's Access to Research for Development and Innovation (ARDI) program.

Not Just Duplicates – Challenges in Identifying Non-patent Literature Articles Across Databases

John Willmore, BizInt Solutions

Abstract

Non-patent literature can be a key component of patent searches and analyses. Just as with patents (as discussed in our presentation at the 2019 annual meeting), there are a variety of techniques and challenges involved in matching citations to literature from different sources.

When analyzing literature results combining data from searches on multiple systems (e.g. STN, Innovation, Dialog, EMBASE, etc.), how do you know if you've retrieved the same original article multiple times? And having identified "duplicates", do you just keep one record, and if so how do you decide which to keep? Or are there cases in which it is better to mix content from multiple citations into a single entity?

Biography

John Willmore is co-founder of BizInt Solutions Inc., and manages the development of all aspects of the BizInt Smart Charts product line. John has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rice University and over 20 years of experience developing software to work with patent and IP sequence data. Outside of work, John plays ice hockey and enjoys training and competing with his longhaired dachshunds.

Patent Trends Disrupted – Increasing Confidence in your Patenting Trends Analysis and Visualizations

Yateen Pargaonkar and Edlyn Simmons




Abstract

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …Charles Dickens (1859)

It is the best of times for patenting trends search, analysis, and visualizations. Newer patent analytics tools that stress "instant" intelligence and insights dominate discussions at global patent meetings.

It is the worse of times for patenting trends search, analysis, and visualizations. Democratization of patent search and analysis tools (without training of the constraints and limitations of the tools) has led to a false notion that patent landscape analysis can be done "instantly" by any end user without any need for in-depth or expert analysis. End users or inexperienced patent searchers generally do not have a grasp of the intricacies of patent data, source documentation, or advanced patent analytics tools, which may lead to misleading conclusions and flawed decision-making.

Which is the true scenario? It is the best of times and the worst of times depending on process, tools, and people generating the patent analysis. With malice towards none, the presentation evaluates and takes an uncompromising look at the common "instant" patenting trend charts depicted in the industry, as well as the mistakes during interpretation. Coming after more than 20 years, it is a reiteration of a prophetic early warning from Edlyn Simmons and Nancy Lambert to take caution comparing "Watermelons" and a "Bunch of Grapes" when it comes to benchmarking patents and plotting patenting trends.

Biographies

Yateen Pargaonkar is the CEO and President of Riser IP LLC, a specialized patent search, analysis, and IP competitive intelligence service provider. Yateen's experience includes roles of increasing responsibility in the Energy sector (Chevron), Consumer Goods (P&G) as well as legal supporting Biotechnology, and Pharmaceuticals (top-tier IP law firms). He has taught a course at UCSD on Patent Searching & Internet Research. Yateen has degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology, as well as three years of research experience at Columbia University. He is a registered U.S. Patent Agent, a reviewer for World Patent Information, and an active member of PIUG.

Edlyn S. Simmons founded Simmons Patent Information Service, LLC, in 2009 after retiring from her positions as Principal Information Scientist in The Procter & Gamble Co.'s Infolytics group and Manager of the Patent Information Group in the Patent Department of Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. She received BS and MS degrees in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati and is a registered U. S. patent agent.

Ms. Simmons is a founding member of PIUG and served as Chair in 1990-1992 and Director-at-Large in 2000-2004 and 2005-10. She has been a member of the American Chemical Society Joint Board-Council Committee on Patents and Related Matters, in 2001-2011 and 2013-present. She received the International Patent Information Award in 2005.

Using Advanced Metrics and Visualizations to Identify Key Inventions and Industry Leaders in Patent Landscape Analyses

Skye McClain, Mc2 Research Group LLC

Abstract

Would you like to know which companies are truly innovating? The right type of search and analysis can make this very clear. In each area of technology, innovators are those conducting cutting-edge research and developing potentially game-changing new technologies. The followers are forced to react to these new technologies and are working to just keep up with the leaders. The question is… how do you differentiate the two? One method is to use various metrics to analyze a set of patents. Using the right metrics to rank a large set of patents from a patent landscape analysis can identify those key inventions and innovative companies you need to be aware of. This type of analysis and corresponding visualizations can help identify the following:

  • "innovators" and "followers" among your competitors
  • high value patents which may be available to license
  • awareness of potentially disruptive technologies (giving you the ability to modify your R&D efforts)
  • start-ups or smaller research groups with which to partner or acquire
  • experts at the cutting-edge of new technologies

This presentation will provide examples of some of the most useful metrics and visualizations for conducting these analyses.

Biography

Skye McClain, Ph.D., is the founder & principal of Mc2 Research Group, a patent and technical literature research company. As graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and after a career as an officer in the USCG, he left active service to obtain his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Connecticut. After nearly 25 years as a scientific research analyst and conducting patent and technical research for companies across the globe, he established Mc2 Research Group. In addition to managing his business and working closely with his clients, Skye also enjoys inspiring and encouraging students as an adjunct professor of chemistry at Goodwin University.

Forensic Linguistics to Complement AI and Traditional Search Solutions

Peter Fischer, Elute Intelligence

Abstract

Finding without searching speeds up IP related search and analysis. We will describe how forensic linguistic principles allow the computer to read patents like a human - focused on the content. Beginning with an invention disclosure, a website, a patent or any problem description, the system can read and compare the source text linguistically with all patents in our dataset. This full comparison identifies and ranks all documents that match or overlap with the source and shows the most relevant ones, online and interactively.

Although designed to offer a full alternative, the output dataset provides a highly focused training set for Machine learning systems, offering a much better signal to noise ratio. And by providing a list of matching terms it supports using some of those terms in traditional search using databases, NPL collections and full Web browsers.

Biography

Peter Fischer is director of Elute Intelligence, a company that is developing novel software tools based on computational forensic linguistics, which compares and analyses documents to identify similarities between them by mimicking the way people read. Peter has more than 20 years' experience in knowledge-intensive software solutions and since the early 2000s, he worked in different roles in the IP industry. Peter studied Business Informatics at Munich University of Applied Sciences.

Co-author David Woolls is the founder of CFL Software, now Elute Intelligence. He is the author of the plagiarism detection program CopyCatch Investigator, widely used in education since the late 1990s. In parallel he has overseen the development of bespoke linguistically based solutions for government departments, professional bodies and the commercial sector, as well as in the field of patent search and comparison.

AI and Machine Learning in Patent Search Systems: Friend or Foe?

Brad Buehler and Jonathan Skovholt, Ensemble IP

Abstract

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools has become an important consideration in the selection and use of patent search systems. It can be difficult to determine how and when these tools are used, what specifically they are doing, and if they are simply using semantic or other algorithms or true Artificial Intelligence and/or Machine Learning. The knowledge of how a search system delivers results is important to the searcher because different techniques are necessary based upon the algorithms and methodologies the software provides. With appropriate knowledge, these tools can make the searcher more efficient and effective; likewise, a reliance on these tools without an understanding of how they work can lead to missed art, poor results and loss of time. We will investigate how search systems are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools into their systems. We will discuss how to better distinguish if machine learning is being used in the search system or the database and provide tips and techniques on making effectiveness of these tools using real world conditions.

Biographies

Brad Buehler is the Chief Operating Officer and a founding shareholder of Ensemble IP. Prior to starting Ensemble IP, he was Managing Director of the global Patent Search and Innovation Intelligence Unit at CPA Global. He started his Intellectual Property career with Landon IP in 1999, ultimately serving as the President of the company until its acquisition by CPA Global in 2014.

Brad holds a BS in Biology from Mount St. Mary's University, an MBA from University of Maryland University College, and is a Registered Patent Agent.

Jonathan Skovholt is the Head of Patent Search Operations. Prior to joining Ensemble IP, he managed, designed, and delivered training for Landon IP and CPA Global where he taught analysts the finer points of searching, examining, and classifying. He is a faculty member at the NIH Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences and former faculty member of Patent Resources Group (PRG). Jonathan has taught individuals on the art of prior art searching to audiences on four continents. He is also a former patent examiner.

Jonathan has a BA in Physics from Gustavus Adolphus College, a MS in Physics from the University of Delaware, and a graduate certificate in Instructional Systems Development from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Framework of Technical Competencies for Search and Examination of Patents

Dr. Lutz Mailänder, PCT International Cooperation Division, WIPO

Abstract

A comprehensive framework of technical competencies for substantive patent examination is developed as part of a pilot project of WIPO's ASPAC Bureau for improving management and coordination of patent examiner training. It currently comprises some 450 entries which are organized in a hierarchical manner in 13 different fields of learning (Patent Information; Patent Classification; Generic Substantive Examination; Technology Specific Substantive Examination; Generic Search Methodologies; Technology Specific Search Methodologies; Databases and Tools for Prior Art Search; ..). On the lowest hierarchical level, the CF includes specific skills and knowledge elements which are defined in a manner to facilitate assessments or describe learning outcomes of training activities. As far as possible, competencies have been linked to official guidelines, such as the Guide to the IPC or the PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Guidelines. Many competencies are applicable as well to patent information professionals. The presentation will address the philosophy behind the framework and its potential uses.

Biography

Mr. Lutz Mailänder, national of Germany, is the Head of the Cooperation on Examination and Training Section in the PCT International Cooperation Division of WIPO. He manages WIPO's International Cooperation for Examination (ICE) service that provides support for substantive patent examination to patent offices in developing countries, and coordinates WIPO activities related to the training of substantive patent examiners.

He was previously the Head of the Patent Information Section, where he coordinated WIPO's patent information services for developing countries and WIPO activities related to patent analytics and legal status; prior to this he was the Head of the International Patent Classification (IPC) Section, where he managed the revision of the IPC. Before joining WIPO, he worked for almost ten years as a patent examiner at the German Intellectual Property Office (DPMA) in the field of physics, and spent almost two years as a visiting scientist at Cornell University, New York. He holds a PhD in solid state physics from the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, and a certificate in Management of International Organizations of the University of Geneva (IOMBA).

The Impact of Industrial Context on the Patenting Activity of Technology-based Small Businesses

Youngbok Ryu, New Mexico Tech

Abstract

This study seeks to explore how industrial context influences the patenting activity of technology-based small businesses. To figure out the industrial context, I employ the concept of technology life cycle or S-curve where technology evolves from emerging to growth to maturity to saturation. To draw the S-curves of each industry, I fit logistic functions to the data of cumulative patent applications across patent classes. From the identified logistic functions, I determine three parameters: inflection point, maximum growth rate, and saturation level. To identify technology-based small businesses, I use the awardees of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. With the funding from the DoD, the SBIR awardees explore the technical feasibility of their ideas, conduct R&D, and file patents to protect their R&D outcomes. I collect the demographic data of SBIR awardees from the SBIR awards database and keep track of their patents from the USPTO patent database. Using the company-level and industry-level data, I apply hierarchical linear modeling to examine how company demographics and industry characteristics affect the patenting activities of companies.

Biography

Dr. Ryu joined the management faculty at New Mexico Tech in 2017. While at NMT, he is teaching economics, management, and policy courses. He is also taking an active role in promoting entrepreneurship on campus by championing the state-wide Studio G program and advising the student entrepreneurship club. Before coming to NMT, he was an assistant policy researcher at RAND Corporation and a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He was also the winner of the Brian Stockdale Memorial Award in 2017.

Education: Ph.D. in Policy Analysis (Technology and Innovation Policy) from Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.S. in Management from Georgia Institute of Technology; M.S. in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the University of Minnesota; and B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Korea University.

Research Interests: Technology Transition/Transfer/Commercialization; Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR); Emerging Technologies; Innovation Ecosystem; Regional Economic Development; and Innovative Use of Patent Data

Interactive Web Application for Depth and Breadth Analysis of Patents

Davit Khachatryan, Babson College

Abstract

In this talk I demonstrate a novel, interactive web application ("app") that I have recently designed for technological depth and breadth analysis of patents. Technological breadth is used to measure the diversity of the overarching technological domains underlying the inventive claims of a patent, while depth measures the extent of utilization of technological sub-domains. Those measures have recently been proposed by the author (and colleagues) using various components of Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC). During the talk, I will first outline the measures of breadth and depth, and then proceed to the interactive web application. The primary stakeholders of the tool are entrepreneurs and inventors. Those stakeholders may use the interface during the ideation of their planned ventures to understand the competitive landscape in terms of the breadth and depth of their competitors' patents. During competitor analysis, an entrepreneur/inventor can map the competitors along the measures of depth and breadth. The web application allows not only a bird's eye view of the competitive landscape, but also a deeper dive into individual inventions patented by the competitors. The interface was designed using RShiny and is free of charge.

Biography

Dr. Davit Khachatryan is an applied statistician with research interests in analyzing patent data. Davit's current and former research has produced publications in academic, peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of the Royal Statistical Society (Series C), The American Statistician, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Scientometrics, and Journal of Quality Technology. Prior to joining Babson College, Davit was a Senior Associate at the National Economics and Statistics practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In the latter role he consulted in the area of predictive modeling and advanced data analytics, helping clients from financial, healthcare, and government sectors with building automatic predictive models and enhancing business intelligence solutions. Davit has earned his B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Informatics from Yerevan State University, M.S. in Statistics and Ph.D. in Management Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Patent Information 4.0: The Future of the Information Professional

Vasheharan (Vashe) Kanesarajah, Director of Client Advocacy for Derwent

Abstract

As the global innovation landscape changes at a marked rate, multiple forces are reshaping the consumption and use cases for patent information. New technologies, changing business needs, and evolving talent markets continue to affect the nature and shape of patent data, along with its transformative value. A notable emerging factor is the increasing accessibility and self-service nature of patent research which is redefining the role of the Patent information professional.

This presentation discusses the risks and benefits of self-service patent research and evolving role of the Patent information professional. To ensure a well-rounded and collective perspective, information professionals, patent attorneys, and R&D professionals representing several IP-centric industries were interviewed. Specifically, the presentation will cover the following areas

  1. The growing importance of conducting patent search and analysis (hereafter patent research)
  2. The benefits and risks involved in self-service patent research amongst end-users
  3. How to overcome the challenges in working in the new ecosystem
  4. Focus areas to adapt and evolve the traditional model of the patent information department.
  5. The attributes of the modern information professional

Further, this presentation will also outline focus areas that should be considered to ensure that the value of patent research is embedded within the fabric of the organization.

Biography

Vasheharan (Vashe) Kanesarajah is Director of Client Advocacy for Derwent, based in London, UK. He is an experienced patent and technology analyst and has previously managed the Derwent European patent analytics practice and has been a principal consultant for Asia. He has worked globally with technology-focused corporations, governments and research institutions to deliver actionable intelligence to support R&D, IP and innovation strategies. His clients have included Fortune 500 board members, government agency heads, CTOs and General Counsels.

Vashe's responsibilities include providing expert insight and best practice knowledge on patent intelligence. He has represented Derwent in the IP, R&D and academic communities by performing various speaking engagements, including as a guest lecturer at universities across Europe and Asia.

Vashe has been with Derwent for 14 years. He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons) and a postgraduate degree in the Management of Intellectual Property from the University of London.

Searching for Changes in Technology and Patent Law

Ron Kaminecki

Abstract

A conundrum involved with searching for prior art is that by definition, a novel invention has not been made public. So, if the invention is novel, then a patent search will not locate any public records. This is exacerbated by the paucity of search terms such as nomenclature, classification codes and even citations. Because a patent applicant can create new terminology, finding such terms can be problematic, and even class codes may well lag behind what was disclosed.

This is further complicated by changes in the law which make the fuzzy target of prior art also a moving one. This presentation will cover some of the problems brought by new technology and new court decisions and will suggest some strategies for identifying these changes in the art.

Biography

Ron Kaminecki got his start with information retrieval systems and technical databases at IIT Research Institute and has continued his work at different information-intensive companies including Lockheed Missiles and Space, Dialog, Knight Ridder Information, Thomson Reuters, Abbott Laboratories, ProQuest, Questel, and now Kaminecki IP LLC. He currently helps individual inventors and teaches intellectual property searching at the University of New Hampshire Law School and DePaul Law School, both online and in-person. He is a patent attorney with a BS in Chemistry, an MS in Computer Science and a JD with a Certificate in Patent Law and is a Qualified Patent Information Professional. He is an inventor, a co-author of a NISO standard on information search systems, is a Director-at-Large of PIUG, is involved with the ISBQPIP at several levels and has worked as an expert witness.

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