Defending a patent infringement lawsuit can be an arduous and costly endeavor. Of course, there can be no infringement if the patent is invalid. One way to prove this is by producing prior art. Although the concept may not seem revolutionary, this article provides eight examples of resourceful patent lawyers in their search for prior art.
Coupled with federal funding, joint ventures with universities or nonprofits often result in major discoveries having significant commercial implications. However, without clear contractual assignments, corporations could discover themselves in front of the Supreme Court. The article describes the proactive steps involved in protecting your company’s IP.
Contrary to public belief, the use of stock images and “royalty free” licenses can pose a significant risk to your company. For instance, what restrictions does your company face for incorporating a stock image into its logo? Be sure to paint a clear picture now, or else your designer may not be the only one heading back to the drawing board.
This article covers the basics of nonprofit partnerships, starting with basic terminology, and working through more complex topics counsel should understand.
This InfoPAK examines the current state of legal hold programs and highlight the new “starting line” for companies considering building a program or enhancing an existing one.
A powerpoint presentation of the Corporate Counsel University session 201- Tech Solutions for Your Law Department.
How do you put a price on intellectual property? A thorough IP due diligence effort is key. When dealing with intangible assets, in- house counsel must examine every facet of commercial transactions. Unaddressed issues — base technology, scope of protection and pre-existing contracts, to name a few — could prove catastrophic. read this feature and prepare yourself for an IP negotiation.
Brand licensing is an excellent way for companies to generate revenue, while expanding into new business channels and product categories. Competent legal advice, however, could be the difference between becoming what is on people’s minds and being what they wish they could forget. Take the necessary steps to make sure the process runs without a hitch, from drawing up the licensing agreement to protecting your reputation after its terminated.
An important function of every in-house legal department is to provide compliance and ethics training to its non-legal clients – that is, the organization's employees. Effective training on pertinent laws and regulations can help prevent and detect legal problems, and can also limit or mitigate the organization's exposure if violations occur. This program will provide practical guidance for (i) developing training content that conveys the essential information to the employees who need it, (ii) delivering that information in a comprehensible and engaging manner, (iii) ensuring that all employees who should be trained actually receive their training, and (iv) tracking these activities in order to prove up each employee's training participation if/as needed. Attendees will leave this program with ACC resources that will jump-start your training and save you time and money.
For more compliance and ethics training resources, visit ACC's new Compliance Training Portal at <a href=http://www.acc.com/compliance>www.acc.com/compliance</a>.<br/>
The negotiation of good IP agreements can be particularly thorny since the negotiator often doesn't understand the underlying IP. This session will discuss best practices and include practical checklists for would-be IP agreement negotiators.