As we wrap up another successful year, the Center for IP Research would like to share with you some of our recent accomplishments and achievements.
- Mattioli's research explores brain tech challenges
- Class uses Zoom to try complex patent case
- News from the IP clinic
- CIPR partners with Bloomington middle school on IP instruction model
- Student achievements
- Coming events
Mattioli's research explores brain tech challenges
Prof. Michael Mattioli is exploring a set of public policy challenges related to "brain tech." Today, thousands of smartphone apps claim to treat chronic anxiety, depression, and a host of other challenges rooted in the mind. These innovative therapies, which include chatbot therapists, AI literacy tools, and virtual reality immersion, might be the future of cognitive healthcare. At the same time, however, they present a host of ethical challenges that lawmakers, corporate leaders, and society broadly must grapple with. Read some of Professor Mattioli’s recent publications here.
Class uses Zoom to try complex patent case
You never know what to expect in Prof. Don Knebel’s Patent Trial Practice class, and this year was no exception. After learning of IU’s decision to teach classes remotely for the rest of the spring semester, Knebel and his class of 12 students quickly readjusted to accommodate an online jury trial to determine which team would prevail in their gas cap infringement case. Presiding from the bench, the Honorable James R. Sweeney II oversaw the proceedings. Read more about the trial in The Indiana Lawyer.
News from the IP clinic
The CIPR welcomes Chelsey McCory ’15, as the IP Clinic’s newest adjunct faculty member. McCory will be taking over for Jessica Van Dalen, ’10, assisting IP Clinic Director Norm Hedges in overseeing student work on patent law matters in the IP Clinic. As a law student in 2015, McCory was one of the first students to participate in the IP Clinic when it was still a pilot project and assisted only a handful of clients. Since then, the IP Clinic has grown to represent over 100 clients on patent, trademark, and copyright matters each semester. McCory’s experience as one of the original clinic students and as an associate at Faegre Drinker will be invaluable to the clinic’s clients and students alike.
The Center will welcome two more former IP Clinic students, Alyssa Eckerley,’18, and Evan Glass, ’18, as Center adjunct faculty as they take on coaching responsibilities for next year’s Patent Drafting Competition student teams.
CIPR partners with Bloomington middle school on IP instruction model
In collaboration with Batchelor Middle School, Center personnel including Prof. Mark Janis, Prof. Norm Hedges, Casey Nemecek, and Prof. Janis’s team of research assistants partnered with Batchelor Middle School teacher Becky Boyle to produce a series of lessons about the patent system for her advanced eighth grade social studies class. Included in the lessons was a built-from-scratch case file involving a fictional patent dispute over toy drone technology to be used in a mock trial exercise in which the eighth grade students were to play most of the roles. School closures interrupted our plans, but everything is set to go next year.
Student achievements
IP Theory, the CIPR’s student-operated, online intellectual property law journal, has published its latest issue. Volume 9 includes scholarship on the intersections of copyright and patent law with artificial intelligence, the principles of lean production and the patent ecosystem, and how Internet research can be used properly and reliably in law. Read the full publication here.
IP Association and ChIPs Maurer once more offered students a full slate of activities over the fall and spring semesters. The year began with a strong start: a panel discussion title "IP in the Courts." Speakers included Hon. James R. Sweeney II (US District Court, Southern District of Indiana), Bill Morrison (’91, Hill-Rom), Trevor Carter (Faegre Drinker), and Adjunct Prof. Don Knebel, who served as moderator.
Our on-going IP Practitioner-in-Residence series brought in practitioners and alumni from across the country to share their experiences and connect directly with our students during office hours and in the classroom. Many thanks to this year’s guests: Bruce Haas (’83, Venable LLP), Brian Lally (’01, US Dept. of Energy), John Sommer (Stussy, Inc), Kenneth Guerra (’19, Finnegan), and Daniel Greif (Schmit & Orlov).
ChIPs Maurer held its second annual workshop: "It’s Not You, So Never Give Up." Led by Deborah Pollack-Milgate (Barnes & Thornburg) and Kate Caldwell, the Law School's senior director for career services, the workshop guided attendees through possible workplace scenarios they may encounter during summer internships and in their future careers. It provided ways for women and their allies to make the most of every kind of situation and relationship.
Our students remain committed to helping each other excel in their professional development efforts, as seen most clearly during our annual IP Mock Interview event, which brings IP practitioners to campus to help prepare our first-year students for the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program and on-campus interviews. Attorney participants this year included: Jonathan Anderson (Eli Lilly), Joe Dages (’11, Middleton Reutlinger), Alyssa Eckerley (’18, Faegre Drinker), Kenneth Guerra (’19, Finnegan), Christine Hansen (Quarles & Brady), Greg Hermanson (Knobbe Martens), Brad Maurer (’99, Dentons), Nicole Nan (Dinsmore), Gretchen Parrish (’15, Bose McKinney & Evans), Nick Rericha (Dinsmore), Abe Shanehsaz (’15, Faegre Drinker), and Jonathan Yates (’01, Brannon Sowers & Cracraft). Second- and third-year students were on hand all evening to give tips to students on how to handle the fast-paced interview style.
This was not a normal year for students on our IP Moot Court teams, but we applaud all their hard work in preparing for spring competitions and their flexibility in switching quickly to an online oral argument experience. Sachin Patel and Robert Esrock prepared brilliantly for the Oxford International IP Moot and were set for an excellent showing there, and Prof. Leaffer was ready to give a loud “USA! USA!” cheer from the gallery. For the second year in a row, the Law School was the sole US team to be invited to compete in oral arguments.
Our Patent Drafting Competition team of Sarah Kelly, Payton Hoff, Melanie Magdun, and Ziyu Ma quickly switched over to compete by video, with only two days’ notice and from two different locations. And Michael Glennon and Wei-Chi Hsu gave a strong showing in virtual oral arguments for the AIPLA Moot Court Competition, supported by adjunct faculty and coach Josh Larsen’s instruction this year.
Coming events
Summer 2020
Virtual Roundtable for IP Clinicians
Prof. Norm Hedges will lead a series of workshops for IP Clinicians on best practices for managing their clinics.
Virtual alumni receptions
The Law School is hosting a series of receptions with Dean Parrish via Zoom. Here is more information.
Fall 2020
Profs. Marshall Leaffer and Michael Mattioli will both be hosting regular guest speakers to each of their IP Seminars this fall, International IP and Data, Law & Policy, respectively.
In collaboration with Eli Lilly and Roche Diagnotics, the CIPR will host a conference series focusing on the compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical patents and related topics.
We expect to adapt our IP Practitioner-in-Residence series to new conditions by bringing in speakers remotely and offering virtual office hours during which guests may connect students through Zoom.
Given the rescheduling of the Loyola Patent Law Interview Program to January 2021, we expect to hold our annual résumé review and mock interview event in late fall. We expect interviews by videoconference to become a more common experience for our students, so we plan for this event to be mostly (if not completely) online. If you are interested in volunteering as a mock interviewer or resume reviewer for our students, please email cipr@indiana.edu.
Stay connected
Follow the Center for Intellectual Property Research on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all our news and happenings.
We invite you to share your expertise and your experiences with our students and have several opportunities for you to do so coming up this year. If you are interested in connecting with our students through virtual lunch talks or would like to volunteer as a mentor for the IP Association’s external mentor program, please email us at cipr@indiana.edu.
To update your contact information, contact the Arthur M. Lotz Office of Alumni and Development at lawalum@indiana.edu, or (812) 855-9700.