Recognizing Husch Blackwell's national strength and reputation in the area of Intellectual Property law, Thomson Reuters' West book publishing division tapped the firm to author a commentary and analysis on the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. The America Invents Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Sept. 16, 2011. Husch Blackwell's Edward D. Manzo is lead author and Erik B. Flom significantly contributed to the monograph entitled "Patent Reform 2011: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act: Commentary and Analysis," and six additional Husch Blackwell attorneys also contributed. The authors practice in the Chicago, Denver and St. Louis, Mo., offices. From Chicago: Jon P. Christensen, Erik B. Flom and Edward D. Manzo; from Denver: Glenn H. Lenzen; and from St. Louis, Missouri: Michael R. Annis, Daniel S. Cohn, Samuel Digirolamo and Mark E. Stallion.
The book focuses on the significant impact the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act will have on U.S. patent law and, in turn, companies and individual inventors. The largest change to occur from the America Invents Act is a move from the "first-inventor-to-invent" rule to a "first-inventor-to-file" rule. Other important changes will apply outside the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or will be procedural changes used by the USPTO to determine whether to grant a patent application and the validity of a patent.
The book can be ordered online at Thomson Reuters' Westlaw store.