In this video from the Intellectual Property Society at Santa Clara University, Ron Laurie of Inflexion Point discusses the importance of intellectual assets to M & A transactions and how deals can be adversely affected if the IP isn't taken care of. Laurie advises for small companies to consider potential M & A as part of their strategy from the beginning.

 

Watch the IP Society's vLog on IP-Driven Mergers and Acquisitions.

 

In this vLog from the IP Society at Santa Clara University, attorney Dave Stevens shares some basic advice for high-tech start-ups looking to protect their IP, including important intellectual asset strategy steps for attracting venture capital and mistakes that he's seen start-ups make.

 

Watch the IP Society's interview with Dave Stevens regarding IP strategy for high-tech start-ups. 

In a vLog from the IP Society at Santa Clara University, attorney Gwen Firth Murray discusses the licensing agreements present in open source and free software, and the rising popularity of the two.  The post includes downloadable documents and references from Ms. Murray.

 

View the Open Source and Free Software Licensing vLog from the IP Society.

Most small firms see government procurement stacked against them, particularly if they’re trying to deliver truly innovative ideas.  Given the growing importance of the government market to IT firms, this systematic bias has only gotten more problematic. Read this new issue brief, provided by the Association for Competitive Technology's Braden Cox, that explains the issue and sets out a suggested list of best practices for government procurement officers to follow.

 

After that, sign our petition that promotes similar competitive, goals-based procurement processes at all levels of government.

 

state_procurement_best_practices_-_in_2009

Knowing about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a must for all tech innovators, but one of those topics about which it's always seemed hard to get straight answers. 

 

Not anymore.

 

This slidecast and accompanying guidebook were prepared specifically for innovators. Presented in plain language, it goes over the TWO things that are prohibited by the DMCA and the TEN things that innovators are allowed to do under its provisions.  Written and presented by the Association for Competitive Technology's Intellectual Propert Fellow, Debbie Rose (a former Capitol Hill staffer and counsel who helped prepare the DMCA), this guide should provide answers for all innovators who fear running afoul of the law.

 

The slidecast is about 25 minutes long, and questions can be submitted to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .  We plan a follow-up interview with Mrs. Rose to answer questions that are posed by Innovators Network members and participants.

 

View the slidecast here.

Downloadable Innovators Guide to the DMCA paper: Innovators Guide to the DMCA

IN Entrepreneur in Residence Raymond Millien hosted a webcast on the current state of the IP marketplace. In it, Millien and Ron Epstein of iPotential outline the different actors and business models that have evolved from a growing emphasis on intangible assets. It is important for entrepreneurs and start-ups to understand these market players in order to properly utilize and monetize on their IP. All owners, or potential owners, of intellectual assets need to understand the dynamics between the players in the IP market and the thought processes behind what they do.

 

The webinar is approximately 45 minutes long.

 

http://www.brighttalk.com/webcasts/5968/attend

On June 30, 2009, Entrepreneur in Resident Raymond Millien hosted a webinar on the United States Supreme Court's hearing of the Bilski case and what it means for business method patent holders.  The webinaris about 30 minutes and can be viewed in its entirety here .

 

Check the Innovators Network's calendar of events for additional upcoming events and webinars about intellectual asset strategy and management.