In re Silver, Sup. Ct. of Texas, No. 16-1682, 8/10/2017
Communications between a patent agent and a client should enjoy the protections of an attorney-client privilege when those communications occur within the scope of a patent agent’s authority under the Patent Act, according to an AIPLA letter brief filed August 10, 2017, in the Supreme Court of Texas.
The letter brief cites Sperry v. State of Florida ex rel. Florida Bar, 373 U.S. 379 (1963), to show that a patent agent is a person authorized to practice federal law, satisfying the definition of a “lawyer” for privilege purposes under Texas rules of evidence. The letter brief also points to federal recognition of the patent agent privilege in In re Queen’s Univ. at Kingston, 820 F.3d 1287 (Fed. Cir. 2016).
Upcoming Events
-
2025 Patent Prosecution Boot Camp - Arlington, VA
March 5 to 7, 2025 | Up to 1235 minutes, including 60 Ethics minutes
Register today and don't miss out! The 2025 Patent Prosecution Boot Camp is a comprehensive, CLE-accredited seminar that includes instructional lecture-style sessions with practical tips on U.S. and international patent preparation and prosecution, as well as hands-on interactive workshops that will walk you through drafting claims and responding to office actions. -
2025 Trade Secret Summit
March 27 to 28, 2025
Registration is now open! The AIPLA Trade Secret Summit is the leading trade secret conference in the nation, with speakers from across the spectrum of private practitioners, in-house counsel, government, and academia, as well as fantastic networking opportunities. CLE credits will be available. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! -
2025 Women in IP Law Global Networking Event
April 3, 2025
The annual Global Networking Event connects intellectual property practitioners from around the world for a day of networking, education, and creating meaningful connections. This year’s theme, Innovation and Collaboration, is an opportunity for the AIPLA Women in IP Law Committee to come together and discuss how women drive innovation and foster collaboration in their workplace. -
2025 AIPLA Spring Meeting
May 13 to 15, 2025
Save the Date! The 2025 Spring Meeting is a 2.5 day conference focused on trending topics in IP law. Registration opens February 2025.