Law Seminars International Presents

The 14th Annual National Computer Law Conference

Cutting Edge Issues in Technology Law

Transactions, Litigation, Protection and Policy

December 8 & 9, 2005
Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WA
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Who Should Order Homestudy

Attorneys and business executives involved in the creation, licensing and sale of software and digital technology

Why Order

Technology has compressed the practice of law, and specifically intellectual property law, into a dense fabric comprised of multiple types of threads from wholly different skeins. Formerly disparate areas of law now morph into one another. This seminar will parse these different threads and study how they are woven together in a single project, a website, a sweepstakes, a prototype product. A single phone call with a single client on any given morning might involve a whole tapestry of issues, such as: the patent on the process of an online shopping cart, the issues around protecting children, the copyright on the text of a website, the trademark for a website, the domain names and key words that drive traffic from search engines to a site, the issue of whether there can be a contest to drive traffic to a website, and the collection of information from end users who visit a site. The 14th Annual National Computer Law Conference is dedicated to bringing experienced practitioners together with world-class authorities in relevant fields to help guide the attendee through solution paths and considerations that warrant their attention when reviewing technology issues. ~Program Co-Chairs: Brian Deagle, Esq. and Kate Spelman, Esq.

What You Will Learn

~ Conflict between information distribution technology and IP protection laws ~ Malware, spyware, phishing and identity theft ~ New technology and software liability issues ~ FTC policy priorities ~ Copyright law compliance ~ Trade secrets and employee raiding ~ Defending against class action suits ~ Policy priorities at the USPTO ~ Patent law reform including US and European software ~ Online contracts and digital signatures ~ Data security and consumer privacy ~ The Open Source software movement ~ Antitrust issues in the computer world ~ Trends in software litigation

What Attendees Said

~ Very practical and relevant topic matter. ~ Excellent speakers! Informative discussions ~ This Seminar was extremely helpful; excellent CLE classes ~ Excellent ideas to relate to my practice ~ Your seminars are really great. They're about the only ones I go to. Materials are good. Speakers are always good. ~ Presenters gave important and useful updated information; Will be able to apply to my business

Agenda

Thursday, December 08, 2005
8:30 am Introduction & Overview
  Brian J. Deagle, Esq., Program Co-Chair, Senior Attorney
 Microsoft Corporation / Redmond, WA
  Katherine C. Spelman, Esq., Program Co-Chair
 Cobalt LLP / Berkeley, CA
8:45 am New Issues Arising from the Relentless Advance of Computer Technology: New Minefields for Technology Companies
  First amendment issues; ISP obligations for policing sites for malicious code; potential liabilities including the sending of abusive take-down notices
  Bruce E.H. Johnson, Esq.
 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP / Seattle, WA
  The growing conflict between information distribution technologies and intellectual property protection laws
  Matthew A. Neco, Esq., Vice President & General Counsel
 Morpheus / Woodland Hills, CA
10:15 am Break
10:30 am New Opportunities for Crime: Increasing Data Security and Consumer Privacy Concerns
  Breach of security law; legislative and regulatory initiatives requiring disclosure of release of consumer information; enforcement priorities and mechanisms; FTC and state enforcement of privacy promises
  Francoise Gilbert, Esq.
 IT Law Group / Palo Alto, CA
  Spyware, malware, phishing and identity theft; legislative and regulatory developments; liability issues; tips for compliance
  Holly K. Towle, Esq.
 Preston Gates & Ellis LLP / Seattle, WA
11:45 am Top Policy Priorities at the Federal Trade Commission
  Charles A. Harwood, Director, Northwest Region
 Federal Trade Commission / Seattle, WA
12:30 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:45 pm Special Address: Top Policy Priorities at the Copyright Office
  The Hon. Marybeth Peters, Esq., Register of Copyrights
 U.S. Copyright Office / Washington, DC
2:30 pm Copyright Issues for Technology Companies
  Copyright law compliance issues for technology companies after MGM v. Grokster; the new tort of inducing infringement; the continuing meaning of the Sony-Betamax decision; VC and investor liability for new technologies
  Ian C. Ballon, Esq.
 Greenberg Traurig LLP / Santa Monica, CA
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm Employee Raiding and Trade Secrets
  Trade secret misappropriation; breach of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements
  Raymond H. Hixson, Esq.
 Heller Ehrman LLP / Menlo Park, CA
4:15 pm Product Liability and Class Action Law Suits
  Product liability for software, including Internet malware
  Ronald L. Johnston, Esq.
 Arnold & Porter / Los Angeles, CA
  Strategies for defending against class action lawsuits
  Charles B. Casper, Esq.
 Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP / Philadelphia, PA
5:30 pm Adjourn

Friday, December 09, 2005
8:30 am Update on the Push for Patent Law Reform and Implementation of the USPTO's 21st Century Strategic Plan
  Who is pushing for what in the legislative arena? What's likely to happen? Is the funding in place for the PTO's strategic plan? How much progress has there been?
  Edward R. Kazenske, Esq., Senior Director, IP & Licensing Division
 Microsoft Corporation / Washington, DC
9:15 am In-House and Outside Counsel Perspectives on Current Software Patent Issues
  Update on the uptick in software patent litigation; what is patentable; prospects for getting sued; offensive and defensive strategies
  Ramsey M. Al-Salam, Esq.
 Perkins Coie LLP / Seattle, WA
  Problems with software patent quality; patent trolls in the software industry; pending major changes in European patents as they relate to software and the potential impact on the U.S.
  Bart Eppenauer, Esq., Associate General Counsel, Patent Group, IP & Licensing
 Microsoft Corporation / Redmond, WA
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Online Contracts
  Update on digital signatures and watermarks; practical tips for presenting the document on the web site, authentication, enforcing browse-wrap agreements, and other operational issues for transactions in a consumer-oriented world
  Raymond T. Nimmer, Esq., Director Intellectual Property and Information Law Institute
 University of Houston Law Center / Houston, TX
11:30 am Trends in Digital Media
  When is a PC no longer a PC? Computers as media systems, production tools, piracy risks, retail opportunities for content owners and catalysts for changing the world of entertainment; overview of the complex digital media ecosystem
  Hillery L. Nye, Esq.
 MediaTech Law Group, LLC / Seattle, WA
12:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
1:30 pm The Open Source Software Movement
  Overview of the licenses, business models, and primary issues for licensees
  Craig Fielden, Esq., Senior Attorney
 Microsoft Corporation / Redmond, WA
2:15 pm Antitrust Issues in the Computer World
  Current enforcement activity in both M&A and licensing contexts
  Scott Andrew Sher, Esq.
 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati / Reston, VA
  Japanese and European policies and the increasingly global nature of antitrust enforcement
  David A. Balto, Esq.
 Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP / Washington, DC
  Raymond T. Nimmer, Esq., Director Intellectual Property and Information Law Institute
 University of Houston Law Center / Houston, TX
3:15 pm Break
3:30 pm Trends in Computer Software Litigation
  Henry B. Gutman, Esq., Co-Moderator
 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP / New York, NY
  Karl J. Quackenbush, Esq., Co-Moderator
 Preston Gates & Ellis LLP / Seattle, WA
  Susan E. Foster, Esq.
 Perkins Coie LLP / Seattle, WA
  Isabella Fu, Esq.
 Microsoft Corporation / Redmond, WA
  David A. Zapolsky, Esq., Associate General Counsel for Litigation
 Amazon.com / Seattle, WA
5:00 pm Evaluations & Adjourn

Cancellation

There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders

Continuing Education Credits

This program qualifies for 13.75 WA CLE credits. On request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.

Cost

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $1005. The written course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or the date we receive payment (whichever is later).
Order Homestudy

Faculty Bios

Brian J. Deagle, Program Co-Chair, is a Senior Attorney at Microsoft Corporation's Legal and Corporate Affairs department. Mr. Deagle provides technical and commercial legal support for product development groups in the MSN Division. Previously he was with Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle, working primarily with technology start-ups.

Katherine C. Spelman, Program Co-Chair, is a member of Cobalt LLP. She is experienced in copyright, media, licensing, and trademark issues, and provides advice on the development, production, sale, and defense of non-patent intellectual property. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Marybeth Peters, Special Address, has served as the United States Register of Copyrights since 1994. From 1983-1994 she held the position of Policy Planning Adviser to the Register. She has also served as Acting General Counsel of the Copyright Office and as chief of both the Examining and Information and Reference divisions.

Henry B. Gutman, Co-Moderator, is head of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett's Intellectual Property Group, concentrating in complex, high-technology, intellectual property litigation and is principal litigation counsel for Lotus Development Corporation.

Karl J. Quackenbush, Co-Moderator, chairs the Litigation Department at Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, where his practice emphasizes intellectual property matters. He has handled many notable intellectual property cases.

Ramsey M. Al-Salam, Program Co-Chair, is a partner in the Seattle office of Perkins Coie LLP. He focuses his practice on intellectual property analysis and dispute resolution, with a particular emphasis in patent, trademark and trade secret litigation, arbitration and trial. He has worked with small and large clients in a variety of technologies and industries.

Ian C. Ballon is the firm-wide co-chair of the Intellectual Property and Internet Practice Group of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.Named one of the top 25 intellectual property lawyers in California, he is also the Executive Director of Stanford University's Center for E-Commerce.

David A. Balto is a partner at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP. He counsels a wide variety of companies on FDA regulation, strategic alliances, distribution issues, mergers and joint ventures. Previously Mr. Balto was Policy Director at the FTC Bureau of Competition.

Charles B. Casper is Chair of the Class Action Defense Practice and Vice Chair of the Litigation Department at Montgomery McCracken Walker and Rhoads LLP. He practices defense of nationwide and statewide class actions.

Bart Eppenauer is Associate General Counsel in Microsoft Corporation's Legal and Corporate Affairs Department. He leads the Patent Group which is responsible for the development and management of the worldwide patent portfolio.

Craig Fielden is a Senior Attorney in Microsoft Corporation's Legal and Corporate Affairs department where he is responsible for the technical and commercial legal support for Microsoft's Windows Server Division.

Susan E. Foster is a Partner at Perkins Coie LLP and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Her practice focuses on antitrust litigation and trade regulation, intellectual property litigation, and complex business and financial litigation. She has represented a number of clients in the software industry.

Isabella Fu was Director of Litigation at Intel Corporation and is now at Microsoft where she focuses on patent litigation.

Francoise Gilbert is the founder and managing director of the IT Law Group. A recognized expert on information privacy and security, she advises companies on high stakes transactions, outsourcing and strategic relationships.

Charles A. Harwood has been the Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Northwest Region since June 1989. Previously, he served as a counsel to the U.S. Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Raymond H. Hixson is a shareholder in the Labor & Employment Law Group of Heller Ehrman LLP in the firm's Silicon Valley office. Mr. Hixson provides high-tech companies with advice on a full spectrum of strategic employment issues.

Bruce E.H. Johnson is a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where his practice includes constitutional and commercial litigation, defamation defense and professional liability. He serves as Chair of the firm's Ethics Committee.

Ronald L. Johnston is a partner with the law firm of Arnold & Porter. He has been lead counsel in numerous IT and IP cases, founded and serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Computer & Internet Lawyer.

Edward R. "Kaz" Kazenske recently joined Microsoft Corporation in Washington, D.C., as Senior Director in their Intellectual Property & Licensing Division. Previously, he was Deputy Commissioner for Patent Resources and Planning at the USPTO.

Matthew A. Neco is Vice President and General Counsel for Stirling Bridge, Inc. and its subsidiaries including StreamCast Networks, Inc., dba Morpheus.

Raymond T. Nimmer is Leonard Childs Professor of Law and Director, Intellectual Property and Information Law Institute, University of Houston Law Center. He has authored over ten books, including The Law of Computer Technology.

Hillery L. Nye, founding member of MediaTech Law Group, LLC, represents both institutional clients, such as Microsoft and Amazon.com, as well as device manufacturers, content providers, gamers and individual talent in various digital media transactions.

Scott A. Sher has significant experience working with high-tech clients as a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's Reston, Virginia, office, where he focuses on antitrust and trade regulation issues.

Holly K. Towle chairs Preston Gates & Ellis LLP's E-Commercial Law practice group and is a member of their Technology and Intellectual Property Department. She is co-author of The Law of Electronic Commercial Transactions and is included in The Best Lawyers in America.

David A. Zapolsky is Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Litigation and Regulatory matters at Amazon.com. Before joining Amazon.com, he was a litigation partner at Dorsey & Whitney and Bogle & Gates.