Austin Holler graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2019. Following graduation, he joined Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik, LLP as an intellectual property (IP) associate and later moved to K&L Gates, where he now handles patent and trade secret litigation matters across multiple industries. I had the privilege to interview Austin and gain advice for both current and prospective law students.
Monopoly is one of the most well-known and iconic board games. According to Hasbro, eight out of ten people fight while playing Monopoly. What many people don’t know is the true story behind the creation and ownership of Monopoly. The story involves a fight over the intellectual property (“IP”) rights of the game. The story starts with a female inventor by the name of Lizzie … Continue reading Patenting Monopoly: How the True Inventor was Lost to History
No two career paths are exactly the same, especially in the legal field. Lema Khorshid, founding partner of Fuksa Khorshid Law Firm, is no exception to this and has paved a remarkable career for herself. Lema graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2000 with dual degrees in Finance and Marketing, as well as a concentration in International Business and Italian. Lema then received … Continue reading Self-Exploration and Navigating a Career in Intellectual Property: An Interview with Lema Khorshid
My fascination with intellectual property (IP) began during my time as an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at the University of Michigan and continues today. My curiosity of IP didn’t come just from textbooks or lectures. It came from real-world experiences that showed me just how deeply IP is woven into engineering and everyday life. Let me explain.
Continue reading “From Engineering Labs to Runway Tags: My Journey Into IP Law”
My first pair of shoes was a pair of children’s Adidas Sambas. My dad, an avid soccer fan, gave me this first pair as a baby gift. Soon after, I developed a love for the game. The rhythm of play, the strategic thinking, and the creative maneuvers gave me a sense of tranquility. On the pitch, I was at ease. Little did I know, part … Continue reading From Pitch to Patents: How Soccer Led Me to IP
Since 2022, I have proudly worn the symbols of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Delta). Delta is a Black Greek Letter Organization committed to sisterhood, scholarship, public service, and social action. Before law school enrollment, I noticed a “®” symbol on my Delta crewneck. Now, I’ve noticed this symbol on things like Stanley Cups. But what would it have to do with my public service … Continue reading Securing Sisterhood: My First Introduction to IP
A primer on the immoral or offensive bar to trademark registration Trademarks are all around us—from the Apple symbol emblazoned on a MacBook to a “Loyola Chicago” logo printed on a sweatshirt. (Spot three trademarks in that sentence!) Trademarks exist across different industries and evoke different things to a consumer. However, all trademarks serve an essential purpose: to identify and distinguish a good or service … Continue reading No Offense, But Can This Trademark Be Registered?
The 2024-25 National Hockey League (NHL) season officially kicked off on October 8th. The introduction of a new team based in Salt Lake City, Utah has made this hockey season especially exciting. The new professional hockey team, which picked up the players and assets of the Arizona Coyote’s Hockey Team, after its suspension, is currently going by “The Utah Hockey Club.” As the hockey team … Continue reading Likelihood of Confusion on Ice: The Utah Hockey Club’s Trademark Face-Off
If a system is broken, how do you fix it? I’ve been asking this question for years. First as a healthcare technology consultant, now as a law student studying the intersection of intellectual property (IP) and health law. At Epic, I was part detective, part problem-solver, and part translator. I dove into messy software bugs. I helped clinicians by implementing tools to check insurance coverage in real … Continue reading From Code to Care: Debugging the Barriers Between Innovation and Access
A common misconception many people have about trademark law is that trademarks are only valid if they are registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). I had the opportunity recently to debunk this fallacy at a family holiday dinner. I’ll explain how. Mythbusting at Christmas Dinner [Every family experiences awkward table talk over holiday dinner. But when you’re in law school, apparently the … Continue reading Trademark MythBusting – The MythBusters Trademark Dispute and Misconceptions Surrounding Trademark Registration
