My interest in a career in the creative industry started early in my academic endeavors at the University of North Texas, a college known for its local music and art scene. However, I never expected that interest to manifest into pursuing intellectual property (IP) until I started law school at Loyola University Chicago.
As a child, my pharmacist father instilled a natural curiosity in science in me, that later translated into a love affair with research, and a passion for intellectual property law.
Continue reading “Love, Loss, and Legalities: A Journey from Science to Law”
Imagine this: It’s 4 am and you’re working as an EMT running 911 calls. Dispatch notifies you that you need to respond to a call… now! You turn on the lights and sirens, also known as Code 3, and make your way to the call. You show up. It’s chaotic and you grab the gurney, nitroglycerin, and oxygen tubing amongst others. You save the patient, and everyone is happy. You clean the ambulance and sit down for a moment to relax. But dispatch rings and you’re off again.
Interviewer: “So, what’s your favorite Coca-Cola product?”
Me: I draw a blank at the simple question, trying to think of any Coca-Cola product in existence. A picture of the classic Coca-Cola can flashes in my mind; the bold cursive letters against the vibrant red background. “Well, it has to be Coca-Cola, of course!”
Continue reading “Trademark Tale: From a Mistaken Coca-Cola Enthusiast to Aspiring IP Attorney”
When you think of “Golden Arches,” a black “swoosh,” and a red “target,” modern brands should immediately come to mind. (Yet, if you’re having a hard time imagining what these symbols represent, they are McDonald’s, Nike, and Target, respectively).
Continue reading “Putting the Puzzle Pieces of My Career Together: IP Law & Marketing”
Embarking on the path of higher education is often a journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected discoveries. As an engineering undergraduate, my passion for problem-solving and innovation led me down a familiar road of equations and design principles. However, it was during my last semester of undergrad that I stumbled upon a new realm of knowledge that would reshape my understanding of creativity and innovation – intellectual property law (IP).
Continue reading “Navigating the Crossroads: A Journey from Blueprints to Briefs”
Epilepsy: a life-altering word. Time stood still as the doctor gave me her diagnosis. My knuckles whitened as my grip tightened on the armchair. After years of not knowing the root cause of my health issues, I now had an answer. My diagnosis changed the trajectory of my life as I knew it. This pivotal moment separated my life into a “before” and an “after.” The love for math and science from my “before” life melded into a passion for navigating the landscape of innovation and technology. This passion defined my “after” life, and eventually propelled me into intellectual property law. But, let me start at the beginning with the “before.”
My fascination for motorsports skyrocketed since attending my first NASCAR race last summer.
So naturally, I discovered Formula 1 (F1), a similar motorsport. F1 is the highest level of open-wheel-single-seater auto racing sport. Most importantly, F1 is known for pushing the boundaries of technology and engineering.
Although F1 generally did not captivate me as much as NASCAR, the F1 intellectual property (“IP”) dramas involving trade secrets got my attention. First, I will explain why there is trade secret drama to begin with, and not a different type of IP drama. Then, I will cover some trade secret fundamentals. And, of course, I will share the trade secret drama that inspired this post: Spygate.
So, hold on to your seats as we go on this ride!
Continue reading “The Driving Force of Formula 1: Trade Secrets”
My first exposure to intellectual property (IP) unexpectedly started with t-shirts. If you asked me five years ago if it is easy to get approval for a phrase on a t-shirt, I probably would’ve said yes. However, now I know it can sometimes be anything but easy. In college, I was the President of Notre Dame’s (ND) Equestrian Team. To raise funds for the club, my fellow officers and I wanted to stamp “Ride Like a Champion Today” on t-shirts and sell them. We based this slogan off the “Play Like a Champion Today” phrase commonly used for ND Football. Expecting it to be a simple and quick process like our other t-shirt fund-raising campaigns, we sent in our mock-up for approval, but the athletics department answered with a resounding NO. What!?
Patent law is often thought to incentivize and benefit inventors. Patent holders have exclusive rights restricting others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, and importing into the U.S. their patented invention. However, the constitutional clause founding patent law aims to benefit the greater public by promoting the progress of science and useful arts. One of the ways patent law helps promote the progress of science is through the Enablement Requirement.
Continue reading “Patent Enablement – For the Greater Good of the General Public”
