USPTO Indefinitely Delays Implementation of the Voluntary Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Certification
On December 16, 2021, The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indefinitely delayed implementation of the voluntary continuing legal education (CLE) certification for registered patent practitioners and individuals granted limited recognition to practice before the USPTO in patent matters.
The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) assembled a joint committee task force comprised of the Patent Agents Committee, Patent Law Committee, Patent Relations with the USPTO Committee, and the Corporate Committee, to ensure that the proposed rules did not disproportionately impact patent agents and other practitioners for whom CLE self-certification would be a significant burden and/or legal risk, and to ensure that practitioners were made aware of requirements for the registration statement and the CLE self-certification. To read the full letter that was submitted in January 2021, please click here.
The USPTO plans to provide at least 120 days’ notice of any future implementation date for the voluntary CLE certification and at that time, will issue final CLE guidelines clarifying the types of courses and activities that qualify for CLE credit.
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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. -
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April 30, 2025 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Join AIPLA and partner organizations on April 30 in Washington, DC, for a special three-hour program to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day 2025. This annual international event is an opportunity to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. The theme of this year’s celebration is “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP.”