I first became interested in intellectual property during a study abroad last summer. I went to Estonia with 30 Berkeley students for a startup bootcamp, where companies were formed in just 3 weeks. During the program, one of my favorite lectures was on IP. A partner from a prestigious IP law firm spoke about the practical value of IP and methods to secure, protect, assert, and monetize various types of IP. As a young entrepreneur, I was intrigued, and that's why I signed up for IEOR 190G.
I liked that this class focused on real-life concepts of IP rather than theory. Usually, my friends are surprised to hear that I enjoy a class on IP because they immediately think of tedious case-studies and rote memorization. On the contrary, IEOR 190G approaches this fascinating field through the perspective of technology entrepreneurship, which makes the material relevant for undergraduates like myself.
The most valuable experience I've had in class was learning the basics of filing and appealing patents. To hear about Professor Lavian's experiences dealing with examiners and his advice on writing patents was awesome. After taking this class, I know how crucial it is to find a good lawyer and pay more for better service. The story about the graduate student who thought of Google's search engine before Google made me realize how IP can make or break someone's return on innovation.
On a "softer" side, I appreciated learning about the ethics behind IP. Sometimes, patents are abused to hurt the very ideals that they should uphold. While patents should encourage innovation and reward fair compensation, trolls use them as ammunition. This problem, while largely unknown outside of the technology industry, has a huge effect on society that I was able to realize in IEOR 190G. On a positive note, it was inspiring to see companies like SynPat turning the table against trolls by "reverse-cheating" the system to protect fair players.
In the near future, I intend to launch a social venture through a technology startup. As a prospective entrepreneur, I'm fortunate to have taken IEOR 190G. Now that I know the average costs of litigation, filing process, patent trolls, and more, I feel prepared to handle IP in an informed and confident way. What I learned this semester will definitely come in handy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTdWLFag6tM
Oh WOW! I have heard about this program before! I really want to know your experience in the program Do you remember which prestigious law firm it was? I also really liked the class because it focused on real-life content, and allowed us to keep up to date with the news. I am interested to hear more about what you want to accomplish as an entrepreneur. I agree that it is crucial to find a good lawyer and pay more for a better service—good advice to take in the future!
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