Welcome to www.calbar.ca.gov/ipsection, the Web site of the Intellectual Property Law Section!

Upcoming Programs from the Intellectual Property Law Section

• State Bar of California Annual Meeting, September 25-28, 2008, Monterey
• 33rd Annual Intellectual Property Institute, November 6-8, 2008, Palm Springs
• IP and the Internet, December 8, 2008 in Los Angeles and December 10, 2008 in San Francisco

81st Annual Meeting
of the State Bar of California
September 25-28, 2008
Monterey

You can now REGISTER ONLINE for the Annual Meeting!

In 2008, the State Bar Annual Meeting returns to exquisite Monterey, offering opportunities for fun for the whole family. As always, the Annual Meeting will have a number of special events, including the the State Bar dinner dance, special luncheon speakers , the annual Fun Run/Power Walk and the art show. The meeting will also offer a wide range of educational programs .

For more information, see State Bar of California Annual Meeting. For access to all of your options, including all four educational tracks (a new feature of this year's meeting), programs listed by all sponsoring groups, and programs listed by MCLE subfields and Legal Specialization credit, see Plan Your Meeting Schedule.

The Section is presenting:

Multidistrict Litigation

We have posted in our Members Only Area the complete article Multidistrict Litigation by Randall A. Spencer as published in Vol. 32, No. 4 (2007) and Vol. 33, No. 1 (2008) of New Matter. You will need to log into your State Bar Profile to access this document. For more information, see Members Only Area.

Written Materials from Past Programs

We have posted a selection of written materials from past programs. See what we have in our library.

Recently added: Materials from The Copyright Office Comes to California.

Program Materials: "DOIN' IT IN THE STREETS"

We have now posted the program materials for Doin' It in the Streets: Film & TV Rights & Clearances From Second Unit Scout to the Director’s Cut, with speaker Speaker: Jessica L. Darraby, Darraby Law, The Art of Counsel -- Counsel to the Arts™. This presentation of the Copyright Committee was held Tuesday, May 6, 2008 via telephone and at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco. See:

• Jessica Darraby - Program Handout

ABA Books at a Discount - Plus Special Reduction for All Section Members

Members of the State Bar can now recieve a 15% discount on any ABA book (or books) and all Section members receive a 35% discount on any ABA book (or books). This is a great benefit for all Section members as the savings on even a single purchase could be equal to or even exceed the cost of an annual Section membership. For instance, the savings on a purchase of $200 would be equivalent to $70. Here’s how the ABA discount program works:

• All Section members are eligible for a 35% discount. The Section Member Discount Code can be found on a special "member-only" page accessible to all Section members. Once you have the discount code simply visit the ABA web bookstore at www.abanet.org/ababookstore, select any book (or books) for purchase and during checkout, enter the special 35% discount code. To access the 35% discount code, click HERE. You will need to log into your State Bar Profile to access the link.
  
  
• Non-Section members can obtain a 15% discount. Visit the ABA web bookstore at www.abanet.org/ababookstore, and select any book (or books) for purchase. During checkout, enter the special 15% discount code PAB6ECABPW1 at checkout.

There is a wide range of books available at the ABA web bookstore including practice related books and law practice management books focusing on finance, technology, management and marketing. Note: Discount does not apply to ABA-CLE iPod products.)

Trade Secret Litigation and Protection in California: The Intellectual Property Section of The State Bar of California proudly announces the publication of the treatise Trade Secret Litigation and Protection in California. This practice guide explains the nuts and bolts of trade secret practice specifically for lawyers and clients who work with trade secrets in California. This work details the governing law and the practical implications for handling trade secrets prior to and during litigation.

For more information, see Trade Secret Litigation; or order online now (click on "Order Sections Products," then "Intellectual Property"). If you have any trouble ordering the Treatise using the online program, please use the pdf publications mail order form. Your business is important to us. In addition, please report any ordering problems to mitch.wood@calbar.ca.gov.

Other Educational Opportunities:

Ongoing Opportunities for CLE Credit from the IP Section

Recommendations from the Justice Department's IP Task Force: The Justice Department's Intellectual Property Task Force, created by the Attorney General to examine how the Department handles intellectual property issues and to report on proposals for future activity, has issued recommendations.  A summary of the recommendations may be found HERE.

Discussion Board for IP Section Members: Our Members Only Area has been expanded to include a discussion board for Section members. Go to Discussion Board (you will need to enter your State Bar Profile user i.d. and password). For more information, see Members Only Area.

Get Involved! Find out how you can get involved in the Intellectual Property Law Section!

Members Only Area: See our Members Only Area for the current and back issues of New Matter, the official publication of the Intellectual Property Law Section.

Getting Involved in the Intellectual Property Law Section!

The IP Section encourages and welcomes all of its members to take an active role in the Section. This can be as simple as joining a Standing Committee and attending Standing Committee meetings. Or, it can be (1) speaking at an IP Section or Standing Committee conference; (2) writing an article for New Matter; (3) taking an officer position on a Standing Committee, and/or (4) joining the New Matter editorial staff.

If you ultimately would like to become a member of the Executive Committee of the Intellectual Property Section, the surest way to be seriously considered for that post is to become an active participant of one of the IP Section Standing Committees or to work on the editorial staff of New Matter. If you are interested in any of the foregoing, please click here for Standing Committee contacts or here for New Matter contacts.

Intellectual Property Law Section
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-538-2375
FAX 415-538-2368

The State Bar of California and the Intellectual Property Section are State Bar of California-approved MCLE providers.

California is the world leader in intellectual property, a topic that finds its way into most deals, every company and much litigation. The IP Section of the State Bar helps keeps its members on the leading edge of this dynamic practice area.

Events. Our conferences and seminars feature noted experts covering timely issues, and are offered at very affordable rates in various locales around the state.

Standing Committees. Committees on Computer Law, Copyright, Diversity, Licensing, Patent, Trade Secret and Trademark offer additional opportunities for hands-on involvement in topical issues, including case law and legislation.

New Matter. Our more than 6,000 members are also kept informed with New Matter, our quarterly journal focusing on legal and practice issues, including extensive case notes.

The IP Section is led by volunteer lawyers representing California's leading industries and institutions including:

• entertainment
• communications
• internet
• academia
• computer
• agribusiness
• biotech
• merchandising
• aerospace
• fashion
• manufacturing
• new media

Membership is open to attorneys, law students, and all others interested in IP, including paralegals, inventors, authors, developers and business professionals. We have many members from outside California who have joined to keep current on California IP law. To enroll, see Join the Section.