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Course Descriptions

Currently accepting applications Apply now >> Next program starts: Autumn 2008 Program location: Bellevue Next information meeting: Thursday, May 29 (see details >>) Sign up to receive e-mail updates >> Contact a program representative >>

The first-term course provides a basic understanding of intellectual property rights, and the following two terms build on that foundation. The management of intellectual property in a business context is explored during the second term. The third term extends the knowledge base through a review and analysis of actual business applications in various contexts.

The goals for the classroom sessions are to:

• Focus on application and interaction
• Develop a community of IP professionals, so that participants are aware of and are able to learn from their peers' expertise
• Provide professional resources to participants to facilitate continuing education in IP management

Interested in taking a single class? Some courses (designated by a below) may be open on a space-available basis to professionals who are not seeking the certificate. See Single-Course Enrollment for details.

Autumn Course

Fundamentals of Intellectual Property Management

Schedule: (10 sessions) Mondays 6:00-9:00 p.m., Sept. 29-Dec. 8, 2008 (no class Nov. 10); $829; 3 CEUs.
Instructor: Rachal Winger and Cris Leffler.

This course provides a basic understanding of intellectual property rights, including patent, copyright and trademarks, along with the mechanics of their creation and their role in business. Participants see the interplay among innovation, rights creation, and possible business applications. Participants learn to recognize opportunities, in which intellectual property contributes to business goals as well as possible IP problem areas and solutions.

Topics:

• Introduction to IP management
• IP view of innovation in business and society
• IP basics: patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets, including what subject matter falls into each, the basic anatomy, and how to file
• Rights perfection, employment agreements and maintenance: patents, copyrights, and trademarks
• Basic IP grants and permissions
• Business management vocabulary: basics of venture capital issues, finance, corporate structure, etc.
• IP risk: origins and mitigation
• Non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements
• Key differences between U.S. and international IP law

Winter Course

Intellectual Property Strategies

Schedule: (10 sessions) Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Jan. 5-Mar. 23, 2009 (no class Jan. 19 or Feb. 16); $829; 3 CEUs.
Instructor: Mary Fabien and Gail Dykstra.

This course covers the management of intellectual property in a business context, including the creation of intellectual property, its capture within the product environment and agreements used to enable business relationships. Participants learn not only how to envision the use of intellectual property to create relationships for business goals, but also how to implement those relationships in basic intellectual property contracts.

Topics:

• The role of IP in business structuring
• IP capture
• IP creation
• IP valuation and markets
• IP in negotiations and business relations
• IP in implementation: basic agreement drafting, forms of license, and basic license structures
• License review and evaluation of terms
• IP in application

How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course

Spring Course

Intellectual Property Ventures

Schedule: (10 sessions) Mondays, 6:00-9:00 p.m., March 30-June 8, 2009 (no class May 25); $829; 3 CEUs.
Instructor: Dave Green.

This course covers specific applications and case studies in intellectual property management within the business context of strategic new business development. Drawing on a combination of presentations by instructors and guest speakers from the region and using case studies during the class sessions, participants extend their understanding of issues, opportunities and implementations used in day-to-day application of intellectual property as a tool for creating business relationships.

Topics:

• Managing high-risk investments: venture, angel, etc.
• Strategic claim development and patent management
• Partners for adding value: joint ventures and channel relations
  • Corporate R&D partnerships
  • Corporate out-licensing: gaining value from wasting assets
• Maintaining value: enforcement and the world of risk; insurance and investment
  • The anatomy of a litigation: intellectual property in the courtroom
  • Manipulation of IP to manage infringement
• IP in the public domain: how to work with it, not against it
• License provisions for sublicensing: improvements and global context
• Licensing in a digital world: copyright and the entertainment industry
• Biotech licensing
• Trademark licensing