Tuesday, 11th August 2015
According to leading Law academic at the University of Limerick, Ray Friel most businesses are unaware of the true extent of the Intellectual Property (IP) assets they own and simply do not know or understand the complete spectrum of tools available to protect and exploit those IP assets to the full. Accordingly they are quite literally losing millions of euros in unseen asset potential.
The University of Limerick today (11th August) announced the launch of the IP Café - a comprehensive 13 workshop series tackling the commercial aspects of Intellectual Property (IP) including patent protection and international trademark issues among others.
Paul Dillon, Director, Technology Transfer Office, University of Limerick said; “The primary assets of tech intensive companies are no longer factories and machines; increasingly, the value in a company is in the innovative ideas and concepts underpinning the products and services traded by the company. The University is working actively to enable companies to better manage their intellectual assets through its research and innovation activities. This IP Café series is a logical step in our efforts to reach out and engage with the industry on this important topic.”
Ray Friel, School of Law, University of Limerick explains: “If Ireland is to truly create a 21st century economy it is going to have to effectively manage a national IP policy. Changes in both technology and the legal framework will create a radically new environment for which both government and industry appear unprepared.”
“Within business, IP too often remains the Cinderella asset waiting for an imaginary prince. But the Irish government could be that prince. The impending Knowledge Development Box proposal is promising, but it will be a wasted opportunity if it is not combined with a comprehensive multi-faceted approach which supports industry, researchers and innovators to release the full potential of IP assets.”
“With a huge number of advantages over other EU countries, Ireland could become a major international IP management hub, but in the face of inaction it runs the risk of losing out to other competitors like Singapore who have invested heavily in developing IP expertise through their IP Academy. The IP Law Café is an attempt to bring together everyone interested in IP issues, including business people, scientists, engineers, accountants, lawyers, tax specialists, HR personnel and others, to both learn about the changing IP environment and to start the conversation on a new and radical unified approach to IP management.”
The free 13-part workshop and networking series will begin on the 17th September and runs until December 2016 with speakers from Arthur Cox, the Patent Office, University of New Hampshire, University of Maine, William Fry Solicitors, Tomkins IP and the University of Limerick. The series has been organised by the International Commercial and Economic Law Research Group, University of Limerick.
The opening workshop in the series features Cathal Lane, Tomkins IP, Dublin who will discuss ‘The Future Direction of IP’.
For further information go to www.ul.ie/law/research/icel or contact raymond.friel@ul.ie Those in attendance can benefit from 1.5 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points/credits for each event.
Full schedule for Intellectual Property Law Café 2015-16
The Future Direction of IP, Cathal Lane, Tomkins, September 17, 2015
Patent Registration and Protection, Gerard Barrett, Patent Office, October 15, 2015
The EU Digital Single Market, Professor Robert Clark,, Arthur Cox Solicitors, November 19, 2015
Employees and IP Law : keeping secrets, Eddie Keane, School of Law, UL, December 12, 2015
Valuing IP rights, Professor Bill Murphy, School of Law, UNH, January 21, 2016
IP and Disruptive Technologies : 3D Printing explored, Kate Harnett, William Fry Solicitors, February 18, 2016
National and international taxation of IP rights, Professor Jeffrey Maine, University of Maine Law School, March 10, 2016
Protecting Patents, Michael Lucy, Patent Attorney, April 21, 2016
Tort actions to protect IP rights, Eoin Quill, School of Law, UL, May 19, 2016
Managing Legal Rights in IP, Raymond Friel, School of Law, UL, September 15, 2016
International trademark issues, Susan M. Richey, Deputy Chief Judge, US Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TBC), October 13, 2016
The New EU Patent Court, Eimear Spain, School of Law, UL, November 17, 2016
Releasing value from IP: securitisation and credit, Professor Tom Ward, University of Maine, December 15, 2016
