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Intellectual Property Clinic

B572 is taught by N. Hedges

The IP Clinic provides students the opportunity to work directly with clients on actual intellectual property law matters (e.g. patent, trademark, and copyright applications, interaction with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), NIL (name, image, and likeness) and other IP licenses, due diligence, and non-infringement and/or invalidity opinions). Students interested in IP law and advising individuals, start-ups, and small business are candidates for the Clinic. Because the Clinic is certified by the USPTO, students are eligible to receive temporary registration to practice before the USPTO. The Clinic is organized much like a law firm, with students working with other students and adjunct professors under the supervision of the Clinic Director. Students meet with the Director to review project status and to discuss experiences and concerns and attend one to three hours of class each week.

NEW IP CLINIC STUDENTS elect to participate in either (1) the patent section of the Clinic (3 credits); (2) the non-patent section of the Clinic (trademark and other non-patent IP matters) (3 credits); or (3) both sections (4 credits). Class sessions survey practical IP legal issues, including ethics, ownership, protection strategies, infringement avoidance, and client counseling.

Enrollment in the Clinic for NEW students is limited, so students must submit a resume and an interest statement to the Director to obtain permission to enroll. Strongly suggested prerequisites or co-requisites include at least one of Patent Law, Trademark Law, or Survey of IP or equivalent experience. 3-4 credits, professional skills.

RETURNING/ADVANCED IP CLINIC STUDENTS elect to participate in either (1) the patent section of the Clinic; (2) the non-patent section of the Clinic (trademark and other non-patent IP matters); or (3) both sections. Advanced IP Clinic class sessions survey materials requested by Advanced IP Students at the beginning of the semester and/or supervision, advanced client counselling, and advanced project management. Advanced IP Clinic students elect 1-4 credits.

Enrollment in the Clinic for RETURNING/ADVANCED students is limited, so students must contact the Director to obtain permission to enroll. Students must have participated in IP Clinic in a prior semester to enroll in Advanced IP Clinic. 1-4 credits, professional skills.

Students may enroll in multiple semesters of Advanced IP Clinic. However, total credits for the Advanced IP Clinic will be limited to 8 total credits, not including any credits obtained in their first semester of IP Clinic.