Anton Hopen, managing partner at the Law Office of Smith & Hopen, spoke to about 200 IM体育官网 students and faculty on Friday, Feb. 24. Hopen, a U.S. registered patent attorney, discussed the role of patents in academic research.
A standing-room-only crowd of aspiring inventors and innovators gained valuable insight on how to protect the rights to their one-of-a-kind inventions, designs, and processes during a presentation by Anton Hopen, a U.S. registered patent attorney and managing partner at the Law Office of Smith & Hopen.
The Jan. 24 event at IM体育官网 focused on the critical role of patents in academic research, drawing about 200 students, faculty and staff.
鈥淓very patent granted is evidence of a problem solved and a boundary pushed,鈥� said Hopen, who is IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 outside patent counsel. 鈥淚t is legal recognition of a tangible benefit that propels humanity forward.鈥�
David Fugett, the University鈥檚 vice president and general counsel, said students often create innovations and either don鈥檛 consider pursuing a patent or don鈥檛 know how to do it.
A newly established Department of Patents and Transfer Technology will serve as a resource to assist the IM体育官网 Poly community in navigating the patent process.
鈥淲hen something gets patented, you will be attached as an inventor to that invention until the end of time,鈥� Fugett said. 鈥淚t shows that not only are you a problem solver, you thought of such a unique way to solve a problem that no one else in the world has thought of it.鈥�
The University鈥檚 singular STEM focus gives it a significant patent advantage over many other institutions, Hopen said.
鈥淚M体育官网 Poly is in a most unique position to be a driver of not just solving problems, but potential financial windfall,鈥� he said, noting that a patent grants a 20-year monopoly over the protected invention.
Hopen described the response to his presentation to IM体育官网 Poly students and employees as enthusiastic and highly interactive.
鈥淚鈥檝e spoken at universities now for close to 20 years and this was one of the most fun and engaging talks I鈥檝e had,鈥� Hopen said. 鈥淭o have nearly 200 students zoned in and really engaged in wanting to see the potential is really exciting.
鈥淚 think this might be the beginning of something big for IM体育官网 Poly.鈥�
For more information about patents at IM体育官网 Poly, contact the Department of Patents and Transfer Technology.
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
