Optimism and enthusiasm in northern California

For the last two days of this week, I was in San Jose (Santa Clara, Palo Alto, etc.) to meet with old friends in the semiconductor business and to make new connections with investment banks and law firms to whom Parallel Semiconductor LLC may be of service.  I am always delighted by the optimism of the bay area, its entrepreneurs and those supporting their innovation and growth.  Just a few highlights from my trip:

• Santa Clara University School of Law Symposium on Shifting Strategies in Patent Law: How the ITC, Non-Practicing Entities and Inequitable Conduct are changing the Patent Arena.  A very well organized, educational and thought provoking day.  Nicely done!

• The good fortune to hear F. Scott Kieff address the topic of Non Practicing Entities.  If you ever have the opportunity to read or listen to Scott's views (easy to do with so much of his material available on the Hoover Institute web site) he will allow you to see IP and patents in a very new (possibly a very old) light.  Highly recommended!