OCIPLA’s September 2021 Luncheon  (both in-person and virtual on Zoom) Date: Friday, September 17, 2021 Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Location: Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails (2607 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614) Topic: Hottest issues in IP: Vaccine IP waiver, Section 101, PTAB institution denials to Trademark Modernization Act, small claims patent court and diversity of innovation     SPEAKERS Andrei Iancu Andrei Iancu focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling. He previously served as the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a position to which he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. As head of the USPTO, Andrei oversaw one of the largest IP offices in the world, an agency with approximately 13,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $3.5 billion. He also served as the administration’s principal advisor on domestic and international IP issues. Among Andrei’s initiatives as director was the creation of the National Council for Expanding American Innovation, a group of industry, academia and government leaders tasked with helping the USPTO develop a comprehensive national strategy to broaden participation in the innovation ecosystem demographically, geographically and economically. Prior to his government service, Andrei […]