Participants include: Julie Turner, Karen Boyd, Gina Steele, Jerry R. Selinger, Laura Lee Norris. The Microsoft Corp v. i4i case questions whether clear and convincing evidence will still be needed to prove invalidity of a patent, or whether the standard will change to the presumption of the evidence standard used for infringement. This lively mock argument will be followed by a discussion of the issues will provide an in depth look at the issues. The cost for a member is $55, non-member $85, and a student $25. To register (deadline is April 26, 2011 at noon), please visit: www.svipla.com

AGENDA and SPEAKERS

[ 8:30 - 9:00 ] Registration

[ 9:00 - 9:15 ] Welcome & Opening Remarks

[ 9:15 - 10:30 ] Governments and ICANN: Is the GAC model the right one?

Is governmental influence on ICANN too weak or too strong? Should governments be organized in ICANN as a separate silo? What are the pros and cons? How does GAC relate to other intergovernmental initiatives in Internet governance such as the UN DESA IBSA proposal? Does GAC allow states to bypass constitutional and due process constraints? Is there adequate participation in GAC from nonwestern countries?

• Milton Mueller, Syracuse University, and co-founder of the NCUC (session chair)
• Álvaro Galvani, Brazilian Government, ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee)
• Scott Seitz, SPI Marketing LLC / dotgay LLC
• Bertrand de la Chapelle, ICANN Board of Directors
• Bill Graham, Internet Society

[ 10:30 - 10:45 ] Coffee Break

[ 10:45 - 12:00 ] Developing Countries and Global Internet Governance

To what extent has ICANN addressed the unique concerns and promoted the participation of developing country stakeholders? How do developing country governments' experiences with and attitudes toward ICANN affect the larger geopolitics of Internet governance, such as their continuing pressure in the United Nations for a new intergovernmental body that would have "oversight" of ICANN? What do these dynamics mean for the global public interest, and for the priorities of noncommercial users?

• William Drake, University of Zurich, and NCUC GNSO Councilor (session chair)
• Avri Doria, Luleå University of Technology, and NCSG Chair
• Rafik Dammak, University of Tokyo, and NCSG GNSO Councilor
• Markus Kummer, Internet Society and former Executive Coordinator of the UN's Internet Governance Forum

[ 12:00 - 12:10 ] Break

[ 12:10 - 13:10 ] Trademarks, UDRP and Takedowns: Lessons Learned and Upcoming Challenges

This session discusses the way trademarks are manifested through policy and legislation on the Internet, in particular the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), and Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeiting Act (COICA). The panel will deliberate on the way trademarks are perceived and treated within ICANN, and the obligations trademark protection imposes on Registries and intermediaries as well as its impact on developing countries.

• Konstantinos Komaitis, University of Strathclyde, and NCUC Chair (session chair)
• Kathy Kleiman, Public Interest Registry, and co-founder of the NCUC
• Peter Eckersley, EFF Staff Technologist
• Eric Goldman, Santa Clara University School of Law
• Wendy Seltzer, Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy Fellow and NCUC GNSO Councilor

[ 13:10 - 14:30 ] Lunch & Keynote Speech from Craig Newmark, Founder, Craigslist.org

[ 14:30 - 15:30 ] An International Framework for Internet Privacy Rights

This session will provide a global overview of privacy rights and the main issues for protecting privacy on the Internet. ICANN's compliance with International data protection standards with respect to its "whois" data protection policy will be discussed. Proposed changes to ICANN's whois policy and the work of ICANN's whois review team will also be explored.

• Katitza Rodriguez Pereda, Electronic Frontier Foundation International Rights Director (session chair)
• Carlos Affonso Pereira de Souza, Fundação Getulio Vargas - CVS, and NCUC Executive Committee Representative
• Chris Hoofnagle, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology
• Milton Mueller, Syracuse University, and co-founder of the NCUC

[ 15:30 - 16:00 ] Coffee & Conversation on Possibilities for a Compatible DNS

Discussion led by former ICANN Board Member Karl Auerbach on the challenges and opportunities for creating a competing domain name system.

[ 16:00 - 17:00 ] Freedom of Expression on the Internet and Domain Name Censorship

Are there freedom of expression rights with respect to Internet domain names? How does the proposed ICANN policy for new top-level domains balance free expression rights with other concerns? Will controversial ideas or organizations be permitted at the top-level of the Internet? What is the relationship between business and government to censor unpopular subjects on the Internet?

• Robin Gross, IP Justice Executive Director, and former chair of NCUC (session chair)
• Rebecca MacKinnon, Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow, New America Foundation
• Suzanne Sene, US Government Representative to ICANN Government Advisory Committee
• Desiree Miloshevic, Afilias Limited
• Eddan Katz

[ 17:00 - 17:15 ] Closing Remarks from Peter Dengate Thrush, Chair, Board of Directors, ICANN

[ 17:15 - 18:00 ] You@NCUC: A tool kit for participating in Internet governance

NCUC GNSO Councilor and former ICANN Board Member Wendy Seltzer will lead a conversation among participants on various tools to protect your rights online.
[ 18:30 - 20:30 ] Cocktail Reception

Please join NCUC members for a cocktail reception at Grandviews at the top of Union Square.

Media Contact: Patrick Reilly, patrick.reilly@ipsociety.net, TEL 831.332.7127

About the Intellectual Property Society:
The Intellectual Property Society is a donor supported membership organization working to increase public awareness of, and participation in, the evolution of intellectual property rights and emerging technologies. We have a special mission to provide outreach from the intellectual property professions to artists, writers, entrepreneurs, technologists,and investors. Please direct program, membership and sponsorship enquiries to patrick.reilly@ipsociety.net. An annual membership may be purchased by credit card at: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=81467

"Ce ne sont pas les belles pensées, mais les belles actions qui donnent de la beauté à la vie".

Come and learn how to manage Intellectual Property and develop a healthy licensing model that will help your business growing.

At this interactive event, our panel of experts will provide practical advise and answer your questions.

Likely topics addressed to the panelists will include the role of intellectual property ("IP") in securing funding; aspects of open source business models; licensing new technologies.
When: November 17th at 6:30 Where: SNR Denton in Palo Alto (1530 Page Mill Rd. Suite 200)
Who:
* Larry Udell, Managing Director of IP International and Director of the Licensing Executives Society (Silicon Valley Chapter)
* Richard Horning, Counsel at SNR Denton
* David Fligor,Vice president and Associate General Counsel at TiVo
* Patrick Reilly, IP Society

Register here: http://sf17nov2010-ipsoc.eventbrite.com/

Luncheon on August 4th, 2010
11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m @ Morgan Lewis in Palo Alto, CA
Presenter: Bruce L. Beron, Ph.D.

What Makes an Infringement Lawsuit Fundable?

Third party funding of litigation has taken a long time to become tolerable, let alone legal and ethical. Bruce Beron will talk about the history of, and barriers to, third party litigation funding to include certain recent overseas developments, in particular, in England and Australia. For the United States, Bruce will review the range of legal and ethical issues facing the practice. He'll cover both the current state of the IP litigation funding community and certain social policy issues that are of concern. Finally, he will talk about what makes a case fundable: what are the key elements important to investors, what the due diligence process looks like, including the role of independent, 3rd party review, and pricing.