Intellectual Property Webinar Series in December, 2014: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will co-host a free webinar series to help business owners understand the intellectual property process, starting on Tuesday, December 9.

This three-part webinar series will provide participants with insightful tips for success on getting a patent or registering a trademark or copyright. Tune in and get answers from USPTO and U.S. Copyright Office senior intellectual property experts Elizabeth Dougherty, Anthony Knight, Susan Anthony, Craig Morris, and Sylvester Simpkins. The information shared will help you protect and promote your intellectual property rights.

• Patent Tips for Success – December 9, 1 p.m. ET (noon CST)
  Webinar overview: Make getting a patent easier with some useful tips for success from seasoned intellectual property experts.
  Presenters:
  Elizabeth Dougherty is the Director of Inventor Education, Outreach, and Recognition in the Office of Innovation Development at the USPTO. In this capacity, she develops, implements, and supervises programs that support the independent inventor community, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the intellectual property interests of colleges and universities.
  Anthony Knight is the Acting Associate Commissioner for Innovation Development at the USPTO. He coordinates the USPTO’s enhanced efforts to assist independent, small entity and university-affiliated inventors. He also works closely with other officials throughout the government in support of small business and entrepreneurship that creates jobs.
• Copyright Tips for Success – December 10, 1 p.m. ET (noon CST)
  Webinar overview:Learn how to register a copyright more easily and gain understanding how to use others’ copyrighted works properly, along with some useful tips for success from seasoned intellectual property experts.
  Presenters:
  Sylvester Simpkins is a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Copyright Office. He is currently a Senior Information Specialist in the Public Information Office. He provides copyright information services to the general public on the mission and responsibilities of the U.S. Copyright Office, its regulations, procedures, registration and recordation practices, and provides general information on copyright to Office visitors. He also helps to ensure the proper handling and security of all Library of Congress and Copyright Office materials.
  Susan Anthony is the Acting Director for the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA), in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs in Alexandria, Virginia. GIPA provides training and education on all intellectual property issues – patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright – for foreign and U.S. government officials, U.S. small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to the general public. Susan has a broad range of experience and expertise in almost all facets of intellectual property protection and enforcement, in the United States and abroad.
  
• Trademark Tips for Success – December 11, 1 p.m. ET (noon CST)
  Webinar overview: Make registering a trademark easier with some useful tips for success from a seasoned intellectual property expert.
  Presenter:
  Craig Morris works in the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks at the USPTO. Currently, he is the Managing Attorney for Trademark Outreach and spearheads efforts for increased USPTO educational activities in the area of trademark fundamentals. For 14 years prior, he was the Managing Attorney for the Trademark Electronic Application System, where he focused on making the Trademark operation a total e-government environment. Craig has been with the USPTO since 1983, previously serving as an examining attorney, senior attorney, and managing attorney.

Register today for the webinar series and learn some valuable tips that will help you to protect your innovations, spur creativity, and market your products effectively at home and abroad.