The Colorado BioScience Association welcomes the opening of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Rocky Mountain Regional Satellite Office in Denver. The new office will be led by Russell Slifer and aims to make the patent process more efficient for Colorado companies. The bioscience industry is an important part of Colorado's economy, employing over 27,000 people and contributing over $10 billion annually. The association looks forward to collaborating with the new satellite office.

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Colorado BioScience Association Welcomes the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
‘Rocky Mountain Regional Satellite Office’ to Denver
Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is honored to welcome the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) Rocky Mountain Regional Satellite Office to Denver. The office will be led by Russell Slifer, an
intellectual property lawyer, who has served as chief patent counsel for Boise, Idaho‐based Micron
Technology for the past eight years.
Denver, CO – June 30, 2014 – The Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is honored to welcome the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Rocky Mountain Regional Satellite Office and Russell Slifer, its
new director, to Denver at today’s historic grand opening. The announcement is made by CBSA President &
CEO April Giles, who says, “Bioscience companies in Colorado depend on access to a high quality, efficient
patent office; and having patent agents right in our back yard will provide for a better interface, as well as
efficient and engaged interactions, in the future.”
Director Slifer, an intellectual property lawyer, has served as chief patent counsel for Boise, Idaho‐based
Micron Technology for the past eight years. He also was a design engineer for Honeywell and spent more than
nine years in private legal practice in Minnesota helping high‐technology clients.
As background, in September 2011, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet worked to pass the America
Invents Act, which allowed for the creation of three new satellite offices for the USPTO. This effort in turn led
to the establishment of the Denver office, which according to Giles, should make the patent process more
effective and affordable for smaller entities in the region; relieve the logjam of patents awaiting approval; and,
result in patent litigation being less imposing and more predictable.
As the state’s trade association representing more than 600 pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device,
diagnostics, and ag‐bio companies; CBSA joined the local campaign effort for a UPPTO Satellite Office in
Denver in January of 2012. The industry saw the crucial need for having patents and protected intellectual
property services based right in the area.
The bioscience industry plays a key role in Colorado’s Advance Industry clusters. Currently, the state employs
27,000 people in its bioscience companies, creating over 122,000 direct and indirect jobs, translating into over
$10 billion in payroll.
“The bioscience industry in the state and region look forward to a collaborative relationship with the Rocky
Mountain Regional Satellite Office in Denver going forward,” Giles stated.
About Colorado BioScience Association
CBSA is a not‐for‐profit organization providing services and support for Colorado's bioscience industry. With
more than 350 members, CBSA actively works to promote the growth of the industry by advocating for a
better business environment, growing the state's biotech workforce, fighting for policies that support a strong
bioscience industry in the state, and speaking with a single voice on behalf of the industry. For more
information, visit http://www.cobioscience.com.
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CBSA also is found on these social media sites:
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LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=98468&trk=anet_ug_grppro
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Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101998361861247247369/posts
Tumblr: http://cobioscience.tumblr.com
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Contacts:
Mae Desaire, Director of Marketing, Colorado BioScience Association ‐ http://www.cobioscience.com –
720‐382‐5918, mdesaire@cobioscience.com
Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, Absolutely Public Relations ‐ http://www.absolutelypr.com ‐ 303‐984‐9801,
maggie@absolutelypr.com