Owning Patents: Why Do We Need Magic Words and What Does Stanford Have to Do with It?

This seminar will cover various topics related to ownership of patents. Topics to be touched on include: the recent Supreme Court decision Stanford vs.  Roche; differences between equitable and legal title; how to transfer ownership; why bother notarizing assignments; shop rights and “hired to invent”; inventions by students; impact of the present and future tense on ownership; and transferring federally funded inventions owned by universities to others. These issues include recent changes or interpretations of intellectual property policies or procedures or are routine but important components of IPR protection or processes encountered at university or other public institutions.