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Office of Innovation & Technology Transfer Offices of Research, Innovation & Economic Development

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IP for Researchers, Inventors, Innovators & Entrepreneurs

This page connects you to valuable free classes, courses, events, and workshops that teach Researchers, Inventors, Innovators, and entrepreneurs about IP and how to manage, protect, and commercialize their IP their Trade Secrets, Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights.

IP Basics

Intellectual Property Basics and Helpful Resources
The Midwest Regional USPTO offers this session for aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and students starting at noon, Eastern time, on the first Thursday of each month. Space is limited, so register early.The discussion will cover:
1. An overview of intellectual property types: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets;
2. Why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider protecting their IP;
3. Local resources and assistance available through the USPTO and other agencies

Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs
Columbia University in New York taught this course via Zoom in Fall 2020, and then made these course videos available for everyone to learn from.

Patents, copyrights, and trademarks are an increasingly critical part of almost any business, at almost any stage of growth. This course provides the aspiring business executive, entrepreneur, or scientist an overview of commercial opportunities and risks associated with IP, with a particular focus on technology patents. While this course addresses legal principles, the primary focus of this course is on leveraging IP to create financial returns.

This course may require a commitment of about 20 hours for the following 6 classes:
Class 1: Patent history from 1770s to today; Why claims matter; Prosecution strategy.
Class 2: Trade secrets, trademarks & copyrights; Patent research; Making “real world” patent decisions.
Class 3: Patent litigation: risks and rewards; Negotiating IP licensing deals.
Class 4: Review negotiation case study outcomes; Common negotiation tactics in IP deals.
Class 5: Guest speaker from USPTO; Designing your IP strategy; Working with outside counsel; Career paths in patent law and tech transfer.
Class 6: USPTO Director Andrei Iancu; Lightning interviews with VCs and Entrepreneurs.

The syllabus for this course is available here: Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs

Viewers may want to start with the CTV ‘Patents, Licensing, and Startups at Columbia’ video for helpful background context: https://vimeo.com/266135774

This course is taught by:
Orin Herskowitz, Executive Director & Senior Vice President for Applied Innovation and Industry Partnerships at Columbia Technology Ventures (CTV);
Connolly Jurkiewicz, Assistant Director, Marketing & Communications at Columbia Technology Ventures (CTV); and
Jeff Sears, Associate General Counsel and Chief Patent Counsel for Columbia University.

Patent Protection

The Inventor's Patent Academy
Presented by Invent Together, The Inventor's Patent Academy is a free e-learning course created to help people understand patenting and intellectual property (IP), and to equip them to apply for their own patents. It also explores some of the challenges that inventors – particularly women, people of color, individuals with lower incomes, people with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented inventors – may face and provides tools to overcome them.

USPTO Basic Patent Training Certification
This virtual Basic Patent Training for Independent Inventors and Small Businesses consists of 6 modules with a short quiz after each module. After you complete the course, you get a Certificate of Completion.

Stakeholder Application Readiness Training (StART)This virtual 3-day workshop focusing on the basics of patent filing is for entrepreneurs, inventors, and small business owners who want to file patent applications without the assistance of a registered patent agent or attorney. Other USPTO Patent Training
The USPTO offers a variety of patent training opportunities for the public including patent examination, patent quality, and inventor chats.

Trademark Protection

USPTO Trademark Basics Boot Camp
This virtual Trademark Basics Boot Camp is offered throughout the year for entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking to protect their brand and product identities, This course provides a comprehensive overview of the process for federal trademark registration and maintaining a federal trademark. This course consists of 8 weekly modules starting April 2, 2024, and ending May 21, 2024. You do not have to attend every module, but if you do, you can request a Certificate of Attendance.

JAN 7, 2025 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 1: Fundamentals

A must for any new trademark owner. In this module, we’ll cover definitions and types of trademarks, the benefits of federal registration, selecting a trademark, filing, and registration, and how to find help.

JAN 14, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 2: Registration process overview

This event is a must for any small business or new entrepreneur learning to navigate trademarks for the first time. In this module, we'll focus on the overall trademark registration process, from filing to registration.

JAN 21, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 3: Searching

This event is a must for any small business or new entrepreneur learning to navigate trademarks for the first time. In this module, we’ll cover important principles related to searching the USPTO's trademark database.

JAN 28, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 4: Application requirements

This event is a must for any small business or new entrepreneur learning to navigate trademarks for the first time. In this module, we'll focus on the requirements for an initial trademark application.

FEB 4, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 5: Application filing walk-through

A must for any small business or new entrepreneur learning to navigate trademarks. In this module, we focus on the Trademark Electronic Application System, the required system for making trademark submissions to the USPTO.

FEB 11, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 6: Responding to an office action

This event is a must for any small business or new entrepreneur learning to navigate trademarks for the first time. In this module, we'll focus on responding to office actions.

FEB 18, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 7: Keeping your registration alive

A must for any small business or new entrepreneur navigating trademarks for the first time. In this module, we'll focus on what happens after registration, including mandatory filings to keep your registration alive.

FEB 25, 2024 - VIRTUAL Trademark Basics Boot Camp, Module 8: Question-and-answer panel

In this module, we'll provide a unique opportunity for you to “meet the trademark experts” and ask all your trademark questions.