NERA and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP co-sponsored a luncheon in East Palo Alto on 8 May 2013 to discuss effective responses to patent infringement claims and threats of such claims from patent assertion entities -- also known as patent trolls. The program provided insights on both patent law and antitrust law responses to patent troll practices -- including discussion of challenges to portfolio acquisitions from operating companies that retain roles in subsequent enforcement actions against their rivals, proposed United States Patent and Trademark Office actions, and potential legislative solutions. Dr. Alan Cox, Senior Vice President and Chair of NERA's Intellectual Property Practice, participated in the discussion. Other speakers included:

• Cynthia Bright, Associate General Counsel, IP Litigation & Public Policy, Hewlett-Packard Company
• Michelle Lee, Director, USPTO Silicon Valley Office
• Fiona Scott Morton, Professor, Yale School of Management and former Chief Economist of the Antitrust Division, US Department of Justice
• Robert Skitol, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP