MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2014



It's your technology -- Can you still patent it?

John Akula, James Lampert

Jan/23 Thu 02:00PM-04:00PM E62-250

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

A key question for many businesses, and especially start-ups, is:  Can we patent our key technology?  For several decades, what life-science and computer technologies could be patented generally expanded.  That expansion strengthened patent-based business models, and was critical to many software and biotech developments, including, for example, proprietary financial and business methods, genetics and personalized medicine. In the last few years, the US Supreme Court has reversed that trend.  Where this will take us is not yet entirely clear.  But what may or may not still be patentable is critical to engineers, scientists and managers in both new and old ventures.   

All participants should feel free to leave at 4, but if you would like more information on any topic, the faculty will be available until 5.

Jim Lampert was, until his recent retirement, a partner at WilmerHale, one of the top law firms in the nation, and head of their IP practice.  John Akula has primary responsibility for the law curriculum at MIT Sloan.

Sponsor(s): Sloan School of Management
Contact: John Akula, E62-316, (617) 452-3619, jakula@mit.edu