Introduction to Intellectual Property

Intellectual property protects “creations of the mind,” which of course are the basis for every step from fundamental advances in basic research to the end products of technology companies. Thus, understanding the value of intellectual property is key to working in technology-driven industries. Yet many scientists and engineers are never trained in intellectual property: what it is and how our legal system enables us to protect it. Indeed, many academics create intellectual property all the time without even realizing it!

In this virtual workshop from the BioInspired Institute, members of Syracuse University College of Law’s Innovation Law Center will discuss the four most common forms of intellectual property protection that may apply to your academic research:

• Patents
• Trade secrets
• Copyrights
• Trademarks

For each form, they will discuss what the intellectual property is, what creations are eligible for protection, the process for obtaining protection, and the rights secured by protection. The presentation will also include a discussion about intellectual property creation in an academic setting, using some case studies as instructional examples.

After the presentation, there will be ample time for answering your questions about what intellectual property means and how it may apply to your activities at Syracuse University. We look forward to seeing you at 1 p.m. on February 11 for this highly informative discussion.