Patent Law

Two Queries:

• Intervening: I previously wrote about the case of Block Financial v. LendingTree (W.D. Mo. Feb 23, 2010) where the district court agreed to vacate is summary judgment holding of invalidity in order to facilitate a settlement. How difficult would it be for a third party intervene in the recently dismissed case in order to request a reinstatement of the opinion?
• Mandamus Jurisdiction: I have been writing some about Federal Circuit Appellate Jurisdiction. Can someone help piece together an explanation of the Federal Circuit's claim to jurisdiction over interlocutory appeals in the form of a writ of mandamus. I'm especially interested in resolving the court's appellate jurisdiction over a writ of mandamus asking a question regarding regional circuit law as seen in TS Tech and its progeny.

San Francisco Bay Area/Napa: For over 50 years years, the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association has been hosting an annual IP seminar. This year's event, at the Meritage Resort in Napa Valley April 30 - May 2, is in partnership with LES (incl. a special track of licensing programs) and WIPLA (Women IP Lawyers Association) and includes several law professors, David Kappos and/or Sharon Barner (USPTO - invited), and various other nationally recognized speakers. [Link]