IPLAC Comments on Changes to the Claim Construction Standard for Interpreting Claims in Trial Proceedings Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. View IPLAC's letter to the USPTO HERE.
The IPLAC Educational Foundation has been helping Chicago Public School high school students by awarding scholarships to CPS students planning to study engineering, science or pre-law in college. Donate now.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO RECORD RETENTION AND DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION POLICY (ENACTED APRIL 4, 2012)
The Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC) shall retain records for the period of their immediate or current use, unless longer retention is necessary for historical reference or to comply with contractual or legal requirements. Records and documents outlined in this policy include paper, electronic files (including e-mail) and voicemail records regardless of where the document is stored, including network servers, desktop or laptop computers and handheld computers and other wireless devices with text messaging capabilities.
In accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1519 and the Sarbanes Oxley Act, IPLAC shall not knowingly destroy a document with the intent to obstruct or influence an "investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of any department agency of the United States ... or in relation to or contemplation of such matter or case." If an official investigation is underway or even suspected, document purging must stop in order to avoid criminal obstruction.
In order to eliminate accidental or innocent destruction, IPLAC has the following document retention policy:
Type of Document
Retention Period
Correspondence (general)
3 years
Employment applications
3 years from making the record or taking the personnel action