Intellectual property (IP), particularly in the form of patented inventions, is a key business tool for companies in the semiconductor industry. For many such companies, IP represents their most valuable asset. Yet many businesses struggle with effectively managing their IP as part of their business. Many companies also have difficulty developing, articulating and implementing a sensible IP strategy. This is particularly problematic issue in the semiconductor industry, where the IP space is relatively dense, the competition is fierce, and the use of IP as a weapon of mass destruction is not uncommon. The aim of this course is to provide the audience with useful information on how to develop and implement an effective and realistic IP strategy suitable for a number of different business scenarios. The course includes an overview of the forms of IP, IP connections within a business, IP interactions outside of a business, and the nature of IP in the semiconductor industry. The course also presents the basics of IP management and the key role played therein by an IP strategy. The course further includes a discussion of the various considerations that go into developing an IP strategy and the different tools used for implementing a strategy. The course also incorporates a one-hour “round table” spirited discussion session based on real-life issues, fact-patterns and questions raised by course attendees prior to or during the course. The round table discussion serves to integrate the material learned in the first 3 hours of the course in an interactive setting. Attendees are thus requested to submit to the instructor (jgortych@aol.com) topics or issues they would like addressed in the course and/or discussed in the roundtable discussion.

Intellectual property (IP), in the form of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, ideas and patents, is of critical importance in high-tech business. In today's economy, IP is an asset that high-tech companies seek to leverage to add to their bottom line, whether through licensing or lawsuits. For many high-tech companies, IP represents their most valuable asset. However, there is a great deal of misunderstanding and misinformation about what IP is and how it is actually leveraged in high-tech business. It is therefore imperative that those involved in a high-tech company not only know the fundamentals of IP, but understand how IP-savvy high-tech companies successfully manage and exploit their IP. The main aim of this course is to provide the audience with an overview of how IP is used in high-tech business, with an emphasis on providing a realistic and grounded perspective on what IP is and how it is generated, developed, protected and leveraged by sophisticated high-tech businesses. Topics covered include: the basic forms of IP, developing an IP strategy, IP licensing, litigation issues, IP management, patent validity and invalidity, and dispelling IP myths. The course will also include an update of actual and proposed changes to the patent laws that already have or that may have a significant impact on the role of IP in high-tech businesses.

The semiconductor industry is known for its culture of innovation and for having recognized early on the value of protecting intellectual property (IP). For better or worse, this has left the IP spaces of its various technologies densely packed and highly competitive. Yet the continuing emphasis on IP, the omnipresent technological challenges (as reflected by Moore's law), and competitive pressures require semiconductor businesses to constantly innovate and protect their IP just to keep apace. Industry and academic efforts directed to advanced lithography and the attendant rush to occupy its IP spaces illustrate the dynamic interplay between business, legal and technical goals that pervades virtually all semiconductor technologies. The aim of this course is to provide the audience with a modern view of the nature of IP in semiconductor manufacturing and the key IP issues, with special emphasis on advanced lithography. The key IP issues addressed include: dealing with dense IP spaces, managing IP for both mature and emerging technologies, the role of IP licensing and cross-licensing, IP litigation, optimizing IP business value, protecting core IP from value erosion, joint development efforts and agreements, IP space mapping, the changing nature of patenting in high-tech business, and others. Advanced lithography IP spaces are also explored and discussed in connection with the various IP issues and topics covered. The course includes a "round table" discussion session with the course attendees based on real-life issues, fact-patterns and questions raised prior to or during the course. Attendees are invited to submit discussion topics to the instructor they would like to see addressed in the course and/or discussed in the roundtable discussion (send discussion topics to: jg@opticus-ip.com).

Intellectual property (IP), in the form of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, ideas and patents, is of great importance in the defense and security industries. Many companies and contractors are involved with developing and manufacturing specialized products or processes (read: inventions) for use by the government, often with the assistance of the government. This governmental connection creates special issues for developing, managing, protecting and leveraging IP. For many companies and government contractors, their IP is their most valuable asset, so that having a modern view of IP and the IP issues in the defense and security business is critical. The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the numerous IP issues and considerations related to doing business in the defense and security industries. Topics covered include: the basic forms of IP and their relevance to the defense and security industries, government rights to inventions, export control issues, confidentiality and information-handling issues, litigation and related administrative proceedings, and the specialized IP interactions defense/security contractors have with the government. The course is taught in a round-table format with a panel of experts so that specific questions and issues of particular interest to the course attendees can be explored in detail from a variety of angles.

Recent economic conditions have forced many high-tech companies to re-think and reform their patenting efforts. Maintaining a solid IP position with diminished resources is a serious challenge that requires developing and implementing smarter approaches to patenting. This course addresses how informed high-tech companies view the patenting process. It discusses specific steps companies and organizations can take to implement "IP best practices" and get the most IP value for their money and effort. Specific examples and issues based on audience participation and interest will be addressed and integrated into the discussion. Topics covered include: How patents actually work in practice; "Central Operating Principles" in forming patenting strategies; "good" vs. "bad" patents; the ten most common patenting mistakes; dispelling the ten biggest patenting myths; understanding and managing patenting costs; new paradigms in working with IP law firms; ten things every inventor must know; IP best practices.