15th Annual Bench & Bar Conference
June 19-22, 2013 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO.  Registration is now open for this year's conference.  Visit the registration site, here, for details.

The International Series
Launched in November, 2010, the International Series explores the search for best practices in legal systems around the world and how those practices--both in terms of governance and the practice of law--relate to innovation and the betterment of societies. The dialogue includes judges, business leaders, government representatives, and leading practitioners from around the globe. Before robust audiences, the May 18, 2011 program in Munich, October 25, 2011 program in Tokyo, May 28, 2012 program in Beijing, and the November 28-30, 2012 programs in Berlin and London, drew corporate, government, and judicial representatives, as well as practitioners and academicians, in spirited and candid comparisons on existing conditions and on possible enhancements encouraging innovation and the economic benefits it brings to societies. The 2013 Series planning is now underway for venues in Toronto, Washington, and Seoul.  The May 13 event in Washington, DC is now open for registration at this link.
Click here for a closer look at all of the programs.

Membership in the FCBA
The Association can help you stay informed about the latest precedent from the Federal Circuit, trends in the development of the law, as well as other court-related information. Your membership will provide you with the Journal's insightful articles, case summaries, the Newsletter's updates, and materials from past conferences as well as discounts to events and complimentary webcast attendance. For more information on benefits, please go here.

Storm Sandy
The Association has deep concern for Sandy’s impact on its members, their families, and communities along the East Coast. Click here for our expression of concern, here for information on organizations providing assistance, and here to enter suggestions on needed assistance or to offer first-hand accounts. This page contains first-hand accounts from FCBA members and a compilation of news regarding the storm and recovery.

The Challenge of Delivering Justice in Tight Fiscal Times
Chief Justice Roberts' annual report on the Judiciary details the extraordinary efforts of the Article III Branch to meet its essential contribution to our Society. In Fiscal Year 2012, the Courts represented a "mere two-tenths of one percent of the United States' total budget of $3.7 trillion." "Yes, for each citizen’s tax dollar, only two-tenths of one penny go toward funding the entire third branch of government!” For more details, click here.

The Advanced Complex Litigation (ACL) Series
Whether from the role of the Bench or the Bar, advanced complex litigation skills (and the tools around which they are built) are the cornerstones of the judicial system’s ability to resolve matters with efficiency and lowest possible cost. (See “The Challenge of Delivering Justice in Tight Fiscal Times,” above.) The ACL Series benefits from the insights of the country’s most experienced judges and practitioners. Programs are underway now. Click here for program dates, registration, and materials. 

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AIA PTO Pro Bono Program
The Association is pleased to announce its new national and regional pro bono outreach in the patent community. In these roles, the FCBA advances its commitment to supporting pro bono and to encouraging innovation. Interested unrepresented inventors and attorneys will find this outreach to include significant new opportunities. For more details, click here.

State of Patent Litigation
On September 27, 2011, at the Eastern District of Texas Bench and Bar, Chief Judge Randall R. Rader highlighted areas deserving of attention to improve patent litigation. A pdf of this can be found here. Chief Judge Rader cited six important areas of focus for both Bench and Bar consideration and improvement, including the problem of excess e-discovery. In coordination with the Chief Judge's remarks, the Circuit's Advisory Council publicly released a proposed "Model Order on E-Discovery in Patent Cases" found here.

FCBA Jury Instructions
Important!  The Association patent jury instructions have recently been revised as of February 2013.  Offering a comprehensive resource and structured in "plain English", judges and lawyers will find these instructions key resources and ready for tailoring to the particular case.  The instructions are available in pdf format here, with the changes from the previous version visible here.

FCBA Jury Instructions Suggestions
The 2013 FCBA Model Patent Jury Instructions provide a revised instruction on willful infringement See Section B.3 Infringement (3.8 Willful Infringement.)  The revisions were prompted by excellent suggestions from our readers.  Please submit comments using this form.