2019 Intellectual Property Institute Program and Schedule:
The 2019 Intellectual Property Law Institute will be held in Philadelphia, PA on August 9 as part of the National LGBT Bar Association’s Annual Lavender Law® Conference & Career Fair.
The Institute hosts experienced practitioners and academics focusing on IP legal issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Participants shared their collective wisdom and discussed cutting-edge legal strategies. To create an environment that encourages the free flow of information, registration is limited. The meeting will be closed and the proceedings will not be recorded.
2019 Lavender Law IP Institute
Philadelphia, PA
August 9, 2019 – 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.: Opening Remarks
8:35 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: Keynote Address from Mary Denison (Commissioner of Trademarks of the USPTO)
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.: Protecting Trade Secrets Against Mobility
This presentation will focus on challenges that employers face in maintaining the secrecy of their intellectual property, particularly where employees have mobile access to corporate assets, and where fierce competition for talent means greater employee mobility from one job to another. The presenters will discuss the elements of trade secret protections, examine some best practices to mitigate losing control over sensitive intellectual property (particularly focused on mobile and remote access), and detail certain litigation strategies regarding trade secret misappropriation claims, whether you are bringing such claims to protect your company’s most valuable resources or (gasp!) defending yourself against such allegations.
9:50 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.: The Intersection of Privacy and IP Rights
With more and more business being conducted in the digital space, organizations and consumers alike have a strong interest in protecting their data against unauthorized access and uses. At the same time, certain parties, such as brand owners, need to be able to access some types of data in order to protect their rights. This session will explore trends at the intersection of privacy and IP rights, including the state of privacy law in the United States, the impact of GDPR (new European data privacy regulations) on data access and brand enforcement, and the policy development and advocacy initiatives underway to preserve access to data for authorized parties.
10:40 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.: Introduction to Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
This session will offer a description of blockchain and cryptocurrency technology, followed by a discussion of the patent risks and opportunities in that space. Both in-house and outside counsel perspectives will be presented from organizations actively involved in developing and using these technologies.
11:35 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.: Superfans and IP Enforcement
Most brand owners and IP practitioners understand the importance of protecting their brands against unauthorized uses, particularly by bad actors. However, what happens when infringers are well-meaning but misguided fans of the brands they are infringing? This panel will explore how organizations can engage with their superfans constructively, while still protecting their valuable IP rights. Topics will include differentiating between fair use and unauthorized use, creative strategies for dealing with infringing superfans, minimizing and responding to negative publicity stemming from enforcement actions, and best practices for expressing enthusiasm for a brand without infringing.
12:25 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Closing Remarks