PIUG - Patent Information Users Group, Inc. upcoming events

Essential Patent Search Techniques (19 Feb 2025)

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Learn essential information and techniques to effectively search for patent information.

Understanding database coverage, content and structure
Balancing precision versus recall
Comparing search types including bibliographic, keyword, classification, citation, full-text and indexed content
Building comprehensive search statements using search operators and command language techniques including nesting, truncation, wildcards and stemming
Contrasting search features across free and commercial resources
Considering necessary steps for different search types: Patentability, Freedom to Operate and Validity
Practical search example applying these techniques

NOTE: Before registering for any of the individual webinars , please consider registering for the complete series to save money. Register for the Series HERE!

PIUG Course - Essential Techniques for Finding Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) (04 May 2025)

Sun, 04 May 2025 19:00:00 GMT

INSTRUCTOR: John Zabilski Chair, PIUG Education & Training Committee

Registered US Patent Agent (No. 59,626)

Qualified Patent Information Professional (No. 20190010100257)

It’s known by several names including Freedom to Practice or a clearance search. Without Freedom to Operate you may not be able to make, use or sell your invention. An FTO search looks for in-force patents in a geographic area of interest to avoid potential infringement. Discover what is required to complete a comprehensive search and identify what is still legally protected to better inform business decisions. This course provides understanding of the fundamental concepts of FTO, identifies essential resources for finding FTO and includes search examples demonstrating suggested approaches for FTO searches. Also learn how to utilize freely accessible resources to determine what is legally in-force such as INPADOC and national patent office registers as well as vendor-based alternatives. Whether you are new to performing FTO searches or more experienced, this course provides focused techniques that save your time and make you more effective in achieving accurate results.

This course is offered as a virtual course for those not attending the PIUG 2025 Annual Conference in-person or participating as a virtual registrant of the conference.

Available live in-person/virtually online or access on-demand afterwards!

Community Engagement Hour (08 Apr 2026)

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Patent Information Users Group - Community Engagement Hour

OPTIONAL - Sign Up/Registration is Available from the PIUG webpage below; This gives you the ability to add the event to your personal CALENDAR. Registration opens the day after each previous session.

PIUG MONTHLY Calendar - April 8

Zoom Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89422162208?pwd=VBBfwgwWmNDQwmQS1mIgtDnIpxxSD1.1

Theme: Gone or Just Sleeping? Navigating Lapsed Patents & Late Revivals Across Jurisdictions

Decode the Risk: Understand the legal landscape around lapsed patents and applications — what "lapsed" truly means versus what it appears to mean across different patent offices.
Revival Reality Check: Explore real-world cases where applications were revived long after expected deadlines, and the implications for competitors who had already relied on the lapse.
Know Your Jurisdiction: Examine how revival rules, grace periods, and "unintentional delay" standards differ across key jurisdictions — USPTO, EPO, and beyond.
When Is It Safe to Stop Watching?: Gain practical frameworks for determining when a lapsed application is truly dead — and when continued monitoring is still the prudent call.
Networking: Share cautionary tales and best practices with peers who've navigated the grey zone of late revivals and freedom-to-operate decisions.
Annual conference preview: Update on upcoming 2026 PIUG annual conference taking place May 19–21 at the Convene Conference Center in Philadelphia.

PIUG 2026 Joint Annual and Biotech Conference (19 May 2026)

Wed, 20 May 2026 01:00:00 GMT

PIUG 2026 Joint Annual and Biotech Conference

Tuesday, May 19 - Thursday, May 21, 2026

Convene Conference Center

Two Commerce Square

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

As papers are submitted and the program develops, be sure to check for updates to the preliminary program and other related conference webpages.

The plenary sessions will begin after a Welcome Reception and run through through late Thursday afternoon, but you’ll have many great opportunities to learn and connect throughout the conference. More details will be posted later as the program is developed.

Tuesday, May 19: Welcome Reception, Plenary Sessions and Opportunities for informal dine-arounds in the evening.
Wednesday, May 20: Plenary Sessions and Opportunities for informal dine-arounds in the evening.
Thursday, May 21: Plenary Sessions.

Community Engagement Hour (10 Jun 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Patent Information Users Group - Community Engagement Hour

PIUG MONTHLY Calendar - June 10

Theme to Be Announced

Zoom Link:

Mark your calendars and plan to join us on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 11:00am–12:00pm ET, for a PIUG Community Engagement hour. These bimonthly meetings will be informal get-togethers to network and share experiences around patent searching, databases & resources, analytics, etc. This is a great way to meet people in the patent information profession, connect with old friends & colleagues, and learn from each other.

We will do a quick overview of what is current in our community and what was accomplished in the past year. We would like some feedback about the community site and about plans for the rest of 2026 and the future of our organization. Hope to see everyone participating.

Agenda:

11:00am – Welcome & Recap of Recent Events
11:15am - Breakouts for small group networking & discussion
11:35am – Switch Breakouts for more small group networking & discussion
11:55am – Final Comments & Adjourn