Akron Law, Ohio Aerospace Institute and Pearne & Gordon, LLP Hold Program on America Invents Act
The University of Akron School of Law collaborated with the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) and the Cleveland intellectual property law firm of Pearne & Gordon, LLP in sponsoring a one-day program on "Protecting Your Intellectual Property: Impact of the America Invents Act on Your Intellectual Property."
The program was held April 4, 2012 at OAI's headquarters in Cleveland. Professor Jeff Samuels, director of Akron Law’s Center for Intellectual Property (IP) Law and Technology, played an instrumental role in organizing the program.
"This program is part of the law school's continued commitment to assist local and regional businesses to understand the importance of IP to their success and to the economy in general," said Professor Samuels.
The America Invents Act (AIA), which was enacted into law in September 2011, contains the most significant changes to U.S. patent law since the Patent Act of 1836. The impact of those changes affects all businesses – large and small – and overall American innovation and research commercialization.The OAI program, which was held April 4, focused on those provisions of the AIA that will have the greatest impact on the innovation process, such as the new first inventor to file system and new post-grant and inter partes review procedures at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The program also included a general overview of IP Law, as well as a discussion of the regulatory regime involving exports. In addition to Professor Samuels, speakers included Scott Oldham, of Hahn Loeser & Parks, who chairs Akron Law's IP Advisory Council, and John Hornickel, of PolyOne Corp., who serves as an adjunct professor at Akron Law. The Akron Law IP Advisory Council assists Akron Law with advancing the Intellectual Property curriculum, fostering relationships with businesses and law firms, and assisting students with career planning.
The President of The University of Akron, Dr. Luis M. Proenza, delivered the keynote address entitled "The Innovation Imperative." In his address, President Proenza noted as follows:
One important element in our technology transfer discussion lies in our failure to tackle the optimization of our education system. Indeed, if the often-quoted suggestion that 95 percent of all technology transfer takes place as people move from college into the workplace or from one company to another is true, then why do we seldom include this in our technology transfer discussions? Thus, I suggest that close relationships between business and universities are the first step in a talent supply chain optimization. In much the same way that universities harp on about the importance of well-prepared students but fail to sufficiently leverage its relationship with K-12, industry says workforce is its number one issue, but doesn't pay the same attention to its human capital supply chain as it does to the supply chain of materials and components. Business" partners with "business" to improve the transfer of goods, but it fails to adequately partner with universities to facilitate the transition of students into the workforce. If we are to compete in this global economy, we can and must do better to enhance the quality of our talent supply chain.
President Proenza concluded his remarks by remarking on the steps being taken at the university to strengthen the link between collaboration on research and developing talent for industry.
About The University of Akron School of Law
The University of Akron School of Law promotes justice, the protection of individual liberty and the rule of law through commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. A regional school of national impact, the law school features renowned programs in intellectual property, professional responsibility and trial advocacy, and is home to one of four Constitutional Law Centers in the United States, established by the U.S. Congress in 1986. To learn more, visit www.uakron.edu/law.