Patent Bootcamp 2022, a one-day seminar designed to present the basics of intellectual property law with a focus on patent law, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in the E.J. Ball Courtroom at the U of A School of Law. Patent Bootcamp 2022 is funded by a grant from the U of A Women's Giving Circle and builds on the inaugural 2019 Patent Bootcamp, also funded by the Women's Giving Circle, that focused on the broader topic of intellectual property law and overcoming the barriers entrepreneurs and inventors face while trying to protect their innovations. Although the target audiences for Bootcamp 2022 are women and minorities in STEM, the bootcamp is open to all entrepreneurs and innovators throughout Arkansas, and a virtual option for participation is available.    

"We have assembled a slate of experts who focus their legal practices and careers on the area of intellectual property and patent law," said Uché Ewelukwa Ofodile, E.J. Ball Professor at the U of A School of Law and organizer of the seminar. "The faculty of Patent Bootcamp 2022 will present a program focused on the basics of the law and processes surrounding this important topic with a focus on equipping entrepreneurs, particularly women and minorities, to successfully navigate the U.S. patent and trademark system and proactively protect their rights and guard their innovations against theft and exploitation." 

Nearly 20 presenters from varied backgrounds will address a range of subjects through three panel discussions, five break-out sessions and three addresses. Topics include:

• An overview of intellectual property rights 
• Choosing between patents and trade secrets
• How to conduct patent searches
• How to find an affordable patent attorney
• Filing a provisional patent application
• Patent application preparations and pre-filing considerations
• How to write a patent application
• Purpose of a patent claim
• Introduction to patent claim drafting
• Introduction to the U.S. patent system
• How to commercialize a patent
• Going from obtaining a patent to entrepreneurship
• The ABC's of patent prosecution
• Strategic patent counseling
• The relationship between patents, innovation and entrepreneurship
• Challenges to patenting for women and minorities
• Diversifying innovation and entrepreneurship in Northwest Arkansas

Ewelukwa Ofodile, a Bootcamp 2022 presenter, joined the law school faculty in 2001. She teaches the school's course offerings in the intellectual property field, and she has taught patent law, trademark law, design law and copyright law to law students, attorneys, diplomats and governmental officials around the world.  Her articles on the topic have appeared in law journals and numerous peer-reviewed publications. In addition to law degrees from Harvard University, University College London and the University of Nigeria, Ofodile holds several certificates in intellectual property law from the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2021, Ofodile was profiled in Law360's "Breaking IP Barriers."

Other experts presenting at the bootcamp include:

Molly Kocialski, director, Rocky Mountain Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office  

Mary Beth Brooks, director, U of A Small Business and Technology Development Center

Yoon Chae, partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Dallas

Lisa C. Childs, patent attorney; assistant vice president for technology commercialization, U of A System Division of Agriculture

Kimberlynn B. Davis, partner, Kilpatrick Townsend LLP, Atlanta

Sarah Goforth, executive director, Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; adjunct professor, Sam M. Walton College of Business

David Hinton, associate director, Technology Ventures, U of A

Jane A. Kim, partner, Wright Lindsey Jennings LLP, Little Rock

Jade O. Laye, partner, Hayes Boone, LLP, Houston  

Meredith K. Lowry, partner, Wright Lindsey Jennings, Rogers

Heather Nachtmann, associate dean for research, College of Engineering

Rashauna Norment, founder, Rashauna Norment Law Firm, PLLC, Little Rock

David Pieper, founding member, Keisling & Pieper PLC

David Snow, president, U of A Technology Development Foundation

Katie Thompson, director, Science Venture Studio, Fayetteville  

Justin Urso, director, McMillon Innovation Studio, U of A

Tambryn VanHeyningen, partner, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison

Debby Winters, founder, Cascade Law Group

The bootcamp is worth up to eight hours of general continuing legal education credit, but the program is tailored for anyone interested in obtaining an understanding of intellectual property law and its relationship to innovation and entrepreneurship. The public is encouraged to attend. The workshop is free and includes a complimentary lunch sponsored by the Wright Lindsey Jennings Woman Run Initiative, created to support woman-owned businesses in the state. Register today to reserve your seat and lunch order. The most recent updates to the schedule and program are available on the Patent Bootcamp 2022 website. 

About the School of Law:The law school offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become president of the United States and secretary of state, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follows us at @uarklaw.         

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.