Webcast Recording: Intellectual Property Basics for Researchers and Inventors

This one-hour presentation introduces the Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer’s (KT4TT) Intellectual Property Modules. The webcast will provide attendees with knowledge about the various forms of Intellectual Property (IP) protection available in the United States. Engineers, therapists, consumers, and caregivers all know of the need for new or improved Assistive Technology or accessible mainstream consumer products. Many individuals from these groups have developed new or improved devices or products and are seeking information on how to protect their inventions as they attempt to bring them to market.

This webcast will provide these individuals with the knowledge needed to correctly select whether or not Intel­lectual Property (IP) protection is warranted, and what type of IP protection is best suited for their creation. Attendees will learn what Intellectual Property is; the four different types of Intellectual Property protection available in the US; what a patent is; the three main types of patent applications; the differences between Pat­ent, Copyright, Trademark and Trade Secret types of Intellectual Property protection; the early steps to protect­ing their Intellectual Property; and other considerations regarding a patent such as Prior Art searching, Market­ability Assessment, IP ownership in a University setting, and IP ownership of Assistive Technology. Resources referenced are available on the KT4TT’s Center web site at kt4tt.buffalo.edu.

You will:

• Learn what Intellectual Property (IP) is and the four types available in the US.
• Learn what a patent is and the three main types obtainable.
• Find out what the differences are between Copyright, Trademark, and Trade Secrets.
• Be provided information on Prior Art searching, Marketability Assessment, IP ownership in a University setting, and IP ownership of Assistive Technology.

Who should attend?
Individuals who are considering or have begun the process of developing a new or improved product and need more information on how to legally protect their inventions will find this webcast helpful.

Meet Your Presenter:
James A. Leahy, BS, is a patent holder and Co-Principal Investigator for the Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer at the University at Buffalo. Prior to his current position, Mr. Leahy was a Co-Principal Investigator and Director of Commercialization for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Tech­nology Transfer (T2RERC). In that position he created a Corporate Collaboration Product Development Model where the KT4TT has partnered with Fortune 500 companies (e.g., Black & Decker, Kodak, Tupperware, White Rodgers, Whirlpool and others) to improve the accessibility and usability of new mainstream consumer prod­ucts. He has also been successful in creating research and development partnerships between major corpora­tions and other institutions in the academic sector.

Content provided by The University of Buffalo's Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer and does not reflect the opinions of the PDMA