Speakers to provide insight to researchers on patent law changes, university startups
From: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties
Raymond Van Dyke, a technology and intellectual properties law expert, will speak at the Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. (VTIP) Making Connections program from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 in Room 310 of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science building on how the America Invents Act will impact universities.
The act was signed into law Sept. 16 but will not take effect until late 2012. The intent of the bill is to bring the U.S. patent system in to line with most other industrialized nations and to remove perceived impediments to innovation inherent in the old system. Besides the new "first to file" rule, many other changes found in the new law could have a significant effect on university inventors.
Van Dyke has more than 20 years of experience representing technology companies in diverse fields of intellectual property law. His technical background in computer software, digital rights, and other information-based technologies is coupled with skill in the life sciences, biotechnology, chemical, and other arts. Van Dyke is an adjunct professor at American University, Washington College of Law, and at Southern Methodist University, where he teaches the history of technology and law, intellectual property law, and technology law.
Also on Oct. 18, VTIP will present Ken Maready of the Hutchison Law Group to talk about the basics of university startups. Such startups play an important role in the commercialization process. But how does a researcher get a new business venture up and running, and create it to be sustainable over the long term? Maready will describe the startup process and answer questions.
Maready provides legal counsel to entrepreneurs and technology companies, primarily regarding corporate, securities, contract, and intellectual property issues, with a particular emphasis on startups, spinouts, and angel, or venture, financing. He served as general counsel and director of strategic affairs at venture-backed Integrian Inc, then relocated to Blacksburg, Va., and established a practice serving entrepreneurs and startups in Blacksburg and Roanoke, Va. He now oversees Hutchison Law Group's office in Blacksburg.
Making Connections is a forum designed to inform the Virginia Tech community of important issues relating to the technology transfer mission of the university.
RSVP for either speaker to Michael Miller, senior licensing manager at VTIP, at mmiller@vtip.org or 540-443-9218.
