On Thursday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will hold the first of two hearings on independent second opinion genetic diagnostic testing where patents and exclusive licenses exist that cover primary genetic diagnostic tests.  The Office is holding the hearings to collect information for the preparation of a report to Congress pursuant to § 27 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (see "USPTO News Briefs," January 26, 2012).  Thursday's hearing will take place in the USPTO's Madison Auditorium located at 600 Dulany Street in Alexandria, Virginia, with a second hearing scheduled for March 9, 2012 in San Diego.

Agendas for both public hearings can be found here (February 16) and here (March 9).  WebEx and teleconference numbers and passwords or access codes for each hearing can be found on the agendas.  On Thursday, a USPTO panel consisting of Deputy Director Teresa Stanek Rea; Dana Robert Colarulli, Director, Office of Governmental Affairs; Janet Gongola, Patent Reform Coordinator; Stuart Graham, Chief Economist; and George Elliott, Director, Technology Center 1600 will hear testimony between 9:35 am and 12:05 pm from the following individuals...

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