The TIPG is pleased to welcome Stephen MacNeil, member of the Patent Appeal Board (“PAB”) at CIPO. Stephen will discuss the history of the PAB as well as the scope of responsibility of the PAB. He will provide a detailed review of the Final Action process including best practices for oral hearings at the PAB. Stephen will also provide some insight on re-examination and will share some statistics related to Commissioner’s Decisions and re-examinations.
Stephen MacNeil is a current member of the Patent Appeal Board at CIPO. Stephen joined CIPO as a Patent Examiner in the mechanical division in 1996. He was appointed to Senior Patent Examiner in 2000. Stephen joined the Patent Appeal Board in 2006 and is a former member of the Patent Agent Examining Board. Stephen also currently serves as Chairperson of the Re-Examination Board.