Event Notice

Tech Coast Venture Network April Workshop: Intellectual Property Protection

Patent protection is one of the least expensive ways for any new venture to block competitors from entering its market.

April 5, 2011 – Tech Coast Venture Network’s Intellectual Property Workshop will be hosted April 7 at 7:30 am  by Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP. Doug Muelhauser, Partner, will discuss patent protection for entrepreneurs, small to medium sized businesses and inventors. A patent can provide valuable protection because its owner is entitled to exclude anybody else from making, using, offering or selling the invention. Even before a patent is granted, as long as a patent application has been filed, significant value may be obtained simply by having the ability to mark products or processes as “Patent Pending.” It is certainly no secret that venture capital providers look for barriers to entry – like a patent or patent application – before deciding whether to invest in any new venture.

The event will be held April 7, 2011, from 7:30 to 10:00 am, at Knobbe Martens Olson and Bear, 2040 Main Street, Second Floor, Irvine, CA, 92614.

The Intellectual Property Workshop will cover different options available for applying for a patent, including the time and resources needed. This Workshop will also present the requirements for obtaining a patent and point out some of the pitfalls to avoid both before and during the application process. Finally,attendees will learn about the anatomy and scope of patents from an actual patent case study and walk through some strategies on enforcement.

”One of the hallmarks of a successful company is that it is rich in intellectual property in all its forms – patents and processes, as well as its people. The net result is that these companies often attain stronger market positions. In addition to creating a more defensible position, the process of researching IP is a necessary one. I would encourage every entrepreneur to attend,” said TCVN Chairman Ciaran Foley.

Highlights:
•Patent application options
•Patent application requirements
•Avoiding application pitfalls
•Patent enforcement

Who Should Attend?
•Entrepreneurs whose company strategic is based upon an IP play
•Engineers or inventors interested in protecting their ideas
•Consultants who wish to learn more about how to protect their clients

Speaker: Doug Muelhauser – Partner, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

Protect Your Ideas and Register today!
$35 for non-TCVN Members pre-registration
$45 at the door/day of event
FREE for TCVN Members

About TCVN
Founded in 1984, the Tech Coast Venture Network is a non-profit organization (501c3) and one of Southern California’s premier technology business networks. Through a wide variety of forums, pitch sessions, workshops, and other networking events, the organization brings together entrepreneurs and resources from every facet of the technology and startup landscape. Either directly or through members or sponsors, the resources TCVN delivers address numerous categories: education, accounting, legal services, banking services, intellectual property protection, funding, marketing, sales, publishing, strategic planning, administration, professional information, government-related guidance, and others. In today’s quickly evolving global economy, technology startups need every bit of support to emerge from the confusion and thrive. TCVN’s support is intended to benefit the entire Southern California technology community. For more information, visit www.tcvn.org

TCVN Platinum Sponsors include Hall & Company (http://www.hallcpas.com), Haynes and Boone, LLP (http://www.haynesboone.com), Jackson DeMarco Tidus Peckenpaugh (http://www.jdtplaw.com); and Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP (http://www.kmob.com); and TCVN Gold Sponsors include Global Human Resources Outsourcing (http://www.GHROgroup.com); and TechRiskPro (http://www.techriskpro.com).

Media Contact:
Jan Johnson
Greentech Communication
714-501-0674