IP and Business Law Classes That I Have Taught in the California Bay Area - Note - the course entitled "Protecting and Managing Intellectual Property" (BUS 60) will be offered again at Stanford University on Wednesday evenings starting on June 24, 2009, with course registration starting on May 18, 2009, and open up through and including the beginning of the course. Call me at (408) 374-7035 if you have any questions about any course.

Stanford University - Continuing Studies Program

More information, including registration, is available at - http://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/

Business Law: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You (BUS 89)

With the increasing levels of litigation and regulation, it is more important than ever for business leaders to protect themselves and their companies. In the rush to grow a business, it is easy to overlook the legal risks involved in certain decisions, some of which can prove catastrophic. Applying key principles of law, including contract and employment law, this course will teach you how to make prudent decisions. Major topics include: avoiding litigation; the pros and cons of alternatives to litigation; the risks in the legal structure of your business -- partnership, limited-liability company, “C” or “S” corporation, etc. A critical element in managing risk is that risk profiles frequently change over time as a business evolves. Spotting the hidden dangers in contracts, and the major pitfalls related to employees, will also be discussed. The fast-paced classes will include focused discussions of experiences and cases. This course will be immediately useful for business owners and partners, entrepreneurs, and executives.

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Protecting and Managing Intellectual Property (BUS 60)

Every business has intellectual property (IP), ranging from the business name and customer lists to software developed for the business, unique business methods, and patentable inventions. This course emphasizes the practical uses and financial benefits of IP protection, as well as the often-overlooked revenue from IP licensing and sales. We will discuss cost-efficient techniques that enable businesses to control and protect their IP, including trade secret protection, provisional and utility patents, trademarks, and domain-name registrations. And we will also talk about rarely discussed topics - such as challenging the patent applications and patents of rivals and competitors, estimating IP valuations, and selecting business partners. The class sessions will include focused discussions of IP experiences and cases, practical advice, and critical legal requirements for IP protection in the US, the European Union, and Asia. The very important and revised international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent application process will also be discussed. This course will be immediately useful for executives, entrepreneurs, and technical innovators.

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Business Department - De Anza College

Business Law I (BUS 18)

This course covers the following legal topics - business ethics, crimes, intentional torts, negligence and strict liability, contract offers, contract acceptance, contract consideration, reality of consent to a contract, capacity to contract, illegal contracts, the requirements for written contracts, the contract rights of third parties, performance and remedies, employment law, legal process, and alternative dispute resolution (e.g., mediation and arbitration).

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Other Patent and Trademark Seminars

Call me or send an email if you are interested in arranging to attend any seminar

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Protecting the IP of Your Business in Japan
Japan is the world's third largest economy in GDP.  Protecting intellectual property in Japan is -- on the surface -- similar to the U.S.  Japan has trademark, domain name, and copyright registrations, trade secret protection, design applications, utility model registrations, and patents.   It turns out that there are significant differences in how these mechanisms work in the two countries.  This seminar will help you:
  -  Choose the optimal intellectual property protection methods in Japan
  -  Develop an action plan to protect the intellectual property of your business in Japan.
 
Trademarks, Service Marks, Utility Models, and Patents  
Utility Model Registrations
Patent Applications
Penalties for Infringement  
Where to Learn More
Actions You Can Take

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Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the European Union
The European Union (EU) has already evolved into the world's largest economy in GDP (with a corresponding value for IP rights); in 2004 the EU added 10 new members.  There are many possible ways to protect IP in the EU, and many different categories of IP - trademarks, trade secrets, utility models, and patents.   It turns out that there are significant differences in how these mechanisms work in the EU, compared to the U.S.  This seminar will help you:
  -  Choose among the IP protection methods in the EU. 
  -  Develop an action plan to protect your IP in the EU.
 
Trademarks, Utility Models, and Patents 
Where to Learn More
Actions You Can Take 

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Protecting the IP of Your Business in China and Taiwan

Utility Model Registrations
Patent Applications
Penalties for Infringement
Where to Learn More
Actions You Can Take

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Basics of Technology Licensing

•         assignment and licensing
  
•         establishing IP credibility
  
•         marketing and royalties
  
•         various categories of technology licensing contracts
  
•         important features of a technology licensing contract

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Basics of Copyright Law

This seminar provides an explanation of the practical benefits of copyrights, the various types of valuable expressions that can be copyrighted, the practical advantages of copyright notice and U.S. copyright registration, an explanation of copyright infringement, the common defenses against copyright infringement suits, the common penalties for infringement, and some low-cost sources of additional information.

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Protecting the Intellectual Property of Your Business in the U.S.

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Biggest Little Patenting Mistakes

Even though the underlying invention is original and valuable, a patent may not pay off.  This seminar discusses the common and serious mistakes that can be made during the patent application process, the prosecution of the patent application with the U.S. Patent Office, and the post-issue period of enforcement. This seminar is extremely practical and useful for inventors, entrepreneurs, and managers.   It also details the actions you should take to strengthen and increase the value of your patents.

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