I often hear this question: “But what are you going to do after law school?”
Right now, it’s an unsolved equation. But I’m working through the terms.
Patent Law = Engineering + Law
I’m exploring patent law because it represents the sum of two important interests in my life, engineering and law.
Continue reading “Still Calculating: Exploring IP as a WeekendJD Student at Loyola”
So you have a great idea for a new business and have thought of the perfect name. But what if it turns out there’s a company who has already been using the same (or a similar) name to the one you’re planning on? Or perhaps you’ve registered a domain name that happens to be similar to another’s?
The good news is this isn’t necessarily a cause to change the name you loved. The bad news is there are a couple of claims that could be made against you depending on your circumstances.
My first experience with Intellectual Property (IP) was in a business law class that I took during my senior year of undergrad. We had new units every week, and I was introduced to the topics of trademarks, copyrights, and patents as they relate to businesses. These turned out to be my favorite units from the semester because I loved learning about the ways businesses use IP to protect their ideas and make money off them. I didn’t realize that brand names, logos, and even the way individual products are designed could all be protected by IP law. I really enjoyed learning about how IP intersects with a business’s ability to build their brand recognition.
Continue reading “From Lululemon to Loyola: Finding My Way to IP”
When I tell you the cost of many medications in America is prohibitively expensive, you likely aren’t surprised. Access to medicine and drug costs has been a major topic of debate for a long time. Most recently, U.S. politicians and pharma industry leaders have stoked the fiery debate on healthcare costs in response to the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) rejection for a petition to grant march-in rights for a prostate cancer medication called, Xtandi®. To learn more about march-in rights and the recent concern over the drug, Xtandi®, read High Drug Prices: Meet Bayh-Dole.
Continue reading “The Price Isn’t Right: Sen. Warren’s Antidote to Costly Medicine”
English Major – Major problem?
I deserve an award for the number of times I was asked, “Oh, an English degree? What are you going to do with that?” Frankly, what won’t I do with that? The possibilities are endless. While the area of Intellectual Property seems to have a large demographic of STEM majors, my English major is how I stumbled upon my interest in IP.
Continue reading “Literature Led Me to IP”
Although patent law may be perceived as a very serious and sophisticated practice, it can also be fun! Other than practicing at the intersection of technical and legal knowledge, patent law also provides protection for a number of suprising and unexpected inventions. For example, a method of exercising a cat was found to meet the requirements for patentability. It is a common misconception that patented inventions must be groundbreaking or scientifically complex. In fact, inventions are patentable, or capable of achieving patent protection from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), despite their deceptive, bizarre, or menial purposes. In the United States, inventions are patentable if directed to patentable subject matter that is new, useful, nonobvious, and. But, you may be wondering, who evaluates whether these “wacky inventions” meet these requirements and how are the patents obtained? Let me explain.
How did the daughter of an immigrant watchmaker from Mexico City end up as a law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law fascinated by intellectual property law (IP)? She took a leap of faith and learned that timing is everything!
Continue reading “From Miami to Chicago: The Daughter of a Watchmaker Goes to Law School”
