Ownership of Ideas Created on the Job

course

COURSE INFO

  • Available Until 1/22/2023
  • Next Class Time 11:00 AM MT
  • Duration 60 min.
  • Format MP3 Download
  • Program Code 01212021
  • MCLE Credits 1 hour(s)


Course Price: $89.00

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Ownership of “ideas” – tangible inventions, “know-how” or processes, or other tangible or intangible property – is often an area of substantial dispute between the creator/inventor and his or her employer.  Though it seems axiomatic the creator owns invention, if the invention – often very valuable property – is created on the job or using employer resources, the employer has a substantial claim to ownership. Indeed, the employee may have been hired for the purpose of creating intellectual property essential to the employer’s success.  Putting in place policies and procedures to ensure employers have clear title to this type of property is essential to avoid protracted, costly, and potentially ruinous litigation. This program will provide you with a practical guide to ownership of intellectual property created on the job. 

 

  • Ownership of ideas, information, know-how and other property created on the job by employees
  • Impact of scope of an employee’s duties on ownership of property created on the job
  • Role of adequate compensation in protecting employer property
  • How some property created on the job is an employee’s – not the employer’s – even if in scope of duties
  • Essential agreements, policies, and practices to preserve employer property
  • What to do if asserts ownership to property created on the job

 

Speakers:

Elen Wetzel is partner in the Seattle office of Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, where her practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, opinions, and counseling of clients across a variety of industries including energy, manufacturing, transportation, electronics, and e-commerce. As part of her practice, she regularly conducts invention disclosure meetings and prepares patent applications and formal correspondence with the patent office for a variety of clients.  Prior to private practice, she served in an in-house role at a larger aerospace manufacturer. By training, she is an aerospace engineer.  Ms. Wetzel earned her B.S.E., cum laude, from the University of Michigan and her J.D., cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law.

Angela Morrison is a partner in the Denver office of Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, where she helps clients gain, manage, and leverage intellectual property assets in the United States and internationally. She regularly assists clients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, and agricultural industries. Her background is in cellular and molecular biology, including graduate work that focused on post-transcriptional modification of RNA and its effect on gene expression.  She earned her B.S. from the University of Michigan, with high distinction and honors, her M.S. from Colorado State University, and her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law.