U.S. Patent Office director is keynote speaker at Intellectual Property Law Symposium

One of the biggest annual events on the national intellectual property calendar returns to The University of Akron campus for its 21st year on Monday, March 4.

The University of Akron School of Law Annual Symposium on Intellectual Property (IP) Law and Policy is a full-day Continuing Legal Education (CLE) event that brings together hundreds of IP law practitioners, professors, patent holders, policymakers, jurists and students for presentations and panel discussions covering all areas of IP law. Corporations represented on the panels include the J.M. Smucker Co., Steelcase, Bridgestone Americas, and Owens Corning.

“Our primary purpose is to bring IP practitioners to the university while building the law school’s reputation in IP law scholarship and education,” said Ryan T. Holte, David L. Brennan Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law & Technology. “Events like this provide our students with the chance to network with practitioners, which can lead to internships and offers of full-time positions.”

Patent Office director to speak

A special attraction at this year’s symposium is the keynote speaker, The Honorable Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

In these roles, Iancu provides leadership to more than 12,000 employees and oversees an annual budget of over $3 billion. He also serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Commerce on domestic and international intellectual property policy matters.

Iancu was nominated by President Donald Trump on Aug. 26, 2017 and confirmed by the Senate 94-0 on Feb. 5, 2018. Prior to confirmation, he was the Managing Partner at Los Angeles-based Irell & Manella LLP, where his practice focused on intellectual property litigation.

Iancu holds a Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law and has a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, both from UCLA.

He has taught patent law at UCLA Law and has written and spoken publicly on a variety of IP issues. Prior to his legal career, he was an engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company.

“I believe this is Director Iancu’s first speaking event in Ohio, so for many IP law practitioners in the region, this will be the first opportunity to hear what he has to say about such issues as changes in the patent eligibility standards,” said Holte.

Pogue to deliver CLE

The symposium program also features a professional conduct CLE presentation by Richard (Dick) Pogue, special advisor and former managing partner at Jones Day.

Pogue was managing partner for nine and a half years, from 1984 to 1994, when he retired from the firm. He immediately began a second career as senior advisor at Dix & Eaton, the Cleveland-based corporate public relations firm. He rejoined Jones Day in 2004 as special advisor and remains active in the community.

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Pogue is a past chairman of the Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association and served as a director of numerous companies, including Continental Airlines, Derlan Industries (Canada), M.A. Hanna Co., KeyCorp, Rotek Incorporated, and TRW. 

In the civic arena, he has served as chairman of organizations including The Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cleveland Growth Association, University Hospitals Health System, and Greater Cleveland Roundtable. He was a founding trustee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“I knew Dick well from when I practiced at Jones Day, and I’m pleased that we were able to secure him for this presentation,” said Holte. “Dick is a giant in the legal field both locally and nationally. This CLE should be informative and enjoyable for all attendees.”

Location and registration

The symposium will take place at the Jean Hower Taber Student Union on the UA campus, beginning at 8 a.m.

Advance registration runs through Monday, Feb. 25. The fee covers the sessions, panels, CLE materials, breakfast, the keynote lunch and the afternoon CLE presentation. An additional fee will be charged to walk-in registrants.

For more information or to register now, go to uakron.edu/ipsymposium.

Media contact: Lisa Craig, 330-972-7429 or lmc91@uakron.edu