IP Laws Have Changed and you Need to Understand the Impact

There have been some very significant changes to the patent law in the U.S. These changes are not going to be good for startups and smaller established companies. You need to know what your options are. Join us for a very important BIZ luncheon on Feb. 15. 

"The changes in legislation significantly impact startups," Intellectual Property (IP) attorney, Emily Harris, of the Davis Brown Law Firm advised. "It is the most sweeping change to patent law that has taken place in the last 150 years.” Harris is speaking of the Leahy-Smith American Invention Act signed into law Sept. 16, 2011. The goal was to stimulate innovation, but Harris fears the results will be quite different for small businesses. Noting that the old system was a "first to invent" system, Harris explains that the changes will result in the U.S. Patent Office now operating under a "first to file" system. 

Common IP Issues

The most common mistake Harris sees among start-ups, as it relates to IP issues, is thinking that they can wait. Harris is concerned that the Leahy-Smith legislation will serve to exacerbate the difficulties faced by a startup that has failed to get its legal ducks in a row prior to launch. "If you don't deal with it up front, you can get that cease and desist letter,” she warned. “I'll talk about strategies for dealing with the patent law and what you can do to prepare for the pending legislation, as well as how to make your objections heard before it becomes law."

Event Info

$15 admission fee (includes lunch)

11:30 a.m.
Feb. 15, 2012 
The Greater Des Moines Partnership
700 Locust St., Suite 100 (map it)

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Square One DSM, an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, is formerly known as Business Innovation Zone (BIZ).