CONNECT Frameworks Workshop: Intro to IP

Program Overview:
Intellectual property rights are often key to the foundation, growth, and ultimate survival of a company. For technology and bioscience companies, the ability to raise funding is dependent on establishing a sound intellectual property portfolio and strategy.

This introduction to intellectual property will give you a basic understanding of IP with emphasis on innovation protection using the patent system and trade secrets. It will also cover the legal requirements and basic process for obtaining a patent

What you will learn:

* The interplay of trade secrets and patents, including their relative advantages and disadvantages;
* The types of inventions protectable by patents;
* The criteria that must be met in order to obtain patent protection;
* Recent rule changes at the patent office and how they will affect the patent process and strategy.

Who should attend:
This workshop is reserved for Entrepreneurs, Researchers, VCs, IP Professionals, Students, etc. ONLY. Please, no service providers.

About the Presenters:
John Wetherell, J.D., PhD. has over 20 years experience in intellectual property law. His counseling experience includes intellectual property acquisition, transactional due diligence, patent infringement and validity analyses, freedom-to-operate opinions, as well as licensing and strategic counseling. Dr. Wetherell’s patent prosecution experience includes obtaining U.S. and foreign protection in biotechnology areas such as molecular biology, immunology, nanotechnology, medical diagnostics, microbiology and pharmacology. He also evaluates intellectual property portfolios for both companies and investors.

At Pillsbury, Dr. Wetherell is the partner in charge of the Intellectual Property practice in the San Diego office, co-leader of the national Life Science industry group, leader of the Stem Cell Outlook and Planning Effort (SCOPE), and a member of the Climate Change and Sustainability practice group.