Patent Prosecution

Patent Agent Mary Hannon will be speaking at the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s (AIPLA) Diversity in IP Law (DIIPL) Committee Meeting to discuss ways to close the gender gap in the patent bar.

Date and Time: Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 3 p.m. Central
Event Name: Closing the Gender Gap in the Patent Bar

AIPLA members are encouraged to join this DIIPL Committee Meeting

Hannon recently authored the article “The Patent Bar Gender Gap: Expanding the Eligibility Requirements to Foster Inclusion and Innovation in the U.S. Patent System“ for IP Theory questioning whether a change to the patent bar requirements might make way for more women. The paper received the attention of several Senators who have requested a formal response from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on the matter.

Joining Hannon to discuss the patent bar gender gap are:

• Nicole Galli, who recently published the article “Closing the Patenting Gender Gap Requires More Women Patent Attorneys“ on Law.com focusing on the issues Hannon raised in her article, the reaction to it, and why it is important not only for women attorneys but also for women inventors to have more women patent counsel; and

• Jeanne Curtis, who also recently published the paper “The Design Patent Bar: An Occupational Licensing Failure” arguing that by limiting design patent prosecution jobs to those with science and engineering credentials, the majority of whom are men, the PTO's rules disadvantage women attorneys, and she offers two proposals for addressing the harms caused by the current system.

Hannon focuses on preparing and prosecuting patents for clients as a patent agent in a variety of industries specifically related to the chemical sciences. Her graduate education and background provide experience and knowledge in a broad range of technology areas, including applied spectroscopy, polymer sciences, electrochemistry, and formulation development.

Founded in 1897, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) is a national bar association constituted primarily of practitioners in private and corporate practice, in government service, and in the academic community. AIPLA represents a wide and diverse spectrum of individuals from law firms, companies, and institutions involved directly or indirectly in the practice of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and unfair competition law, as well as other fields of law affecting intellectual property. Members represent both owners and users of intellectual property.