The Latest from Michelson IP
What is a Utility Patent?
What is a utility patent? In the film “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion,” Mira Sorvino’s character claims to have invented the Post It. Her classmates are skeptical, but had she shown them a patent listing her as the inventor, they might have been impressed!...
When Does a Song Become Public Domain?
After a certain period of time, a work’s intellectual property protections may expire and it enters the public domain. Public domain indicates any creative works that have no protection under intellectual property laws are considered to be in the public domain, and...
Monthly News Roundup – September 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into the past month! "Getty Images chief Craig Peters told The Verge in a statement that his company has banned AI-generated art over the potential...
What is IP Valuation? The role of IP in the value of a startup
When you are starting a business, one of the most important things to think about is your intellectual property (IP). Your IP is what makes your business unique and gives you a competitive advantage. In this article, we will discuss the role of IP when it comes to...
Founder Dr. Gary Michelson wins IPOEF’s Champion Award for Intellectual Property Education advocacy
We're proud to announce that our founder Dr. Gary Michelson has been awarded the 2022 Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation's IP Champion award for leadership his vast advocacy efforts in highlighting the value of intellectual property awareness &...
NACCE Member Schools: IP Educator of Excellence Nominations OPEN NOW – Sept 15th
RECOGNIZE AN OUTSTANDING IP EDUCATOR BY SUBMITTING THE NOMINATION FORM TODAY! Each year, The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property (Michelson IP) and National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) awards a deserving community college...
Should I Trademark My Logo?
If you are an entrepreneur looking to protect your brand through IP protections, you may ask: should I trademark my logo? If your logo is an incredibly important asset to your brand (which it would be for most), then the answer is yes. Besides your brand name, it is...
Monthly News Roundup – August 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into the past month! "Recently, several organizations have risen to the challenge of demystifying intellectual property, situating it within an...
Intellectual property gives students power–if they know about it.
Judy Fox - Michelson IP Director’s Corner Schools are ramping up all across the country. Along with it, teachers are reminding students of the importance of creating work that is authentic and warning them of the consequences of plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs when...
The HBCU IP Futures Collaborative gets featured in Inventors Digest!
This article was featured as the August 2022 cover story in Inventors Digest! Click here to view the full magazine cover and story. By Justin Chapman A SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT created a way to make meal preparation faster, and he applied for a...
Can Ideas Be Copyrighted?
A copyright is a form of intellectual property that gives the owner the exclusive right to distribute creative work. Creators use copyrights to protect their creative work and to prevent others from copying and distributing it as theirs. While most people have heard...
Monthly News Roundup – July 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into this month! "Invent Together, an IP diversity advocacy group has announced the launch of The Inventor’s Patent Academy (TIPA), an e-learning...
Monthly News Roundup – June 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into this month! "...when Taken Alive, 35, asked for copies [of the Lakota dictionary], he was shocked to learn that the consortium, run by a white...
Trademark Licensing
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes the goods and services of one company from those of another. A trademark license is one way to transfer the use of a trademark or service mark from its owner (the licensor) to another...
Equity, Education, and Perseverance are the Keys to a Successful Intellectual Property Ecosystem
Dr. Gary K. Michelson advocated for IP education for all students at the First Look SoCal Innovation Showcase, an annual conference celebrating the very best early-stage startups commercializing deep tech and life science breakthroughs from SoCal’s top research...
What is Patent Infringement?
Patents serve as a valuable tool of the U.S. Intellectual Property system for inventors and creators looking to protect their work in the marketplace. According to the USPTO, a patent for an invention is defined as “the grant of a property right to the inventor,...
Introducing Judy Fox, Director of Michelson IP
This month, Judy Fox was introduced as the new Director of the Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property initiative. Prior to joining Michelson IP, Judy worked as the Regional Director of the Business & Entrepreneurship Sector for the Los Angeles Region. In...
Monthly News Roundup – May 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into this month! "The patent system assumes that inventors are human. Inventions devised by machines require their own intellectual property law and...
Frequently asked: How Long Does a Trademark Last?
Trademarks can serve as a valuable tool for creators or entrepreneurs looking to protect their brand from infringement. They are typically represented by a word, symbol, or phrase that represents a brand or product. So you’ve successfully done your research, completed...
What is a Design Patent?
What is a Design Patent? Design patents are a form of intellectual property protection granted to an inventor who has conceived a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. In order to obtain a design patent, the invention must be embodied in...
Dr. Michelson celebrates World IP Day 2022 with the Licensing Executives Society
By Rachelle Mulumba This year, the theme for World Intellectual Property Day 2022, which was held April 26, focused on IP and Youth innovating for a Better Future and explored how young innovative, energetic and creative minds are driving positive change. Find out...
Monthly News Roundup – April 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into this month! "...the Senate confirmed Kathi Vidal, a Silicon Valley patent attorney, this month — there’s a fresh opportunity to modernize and...
5 Women Inventors and their Innovations To Know This Women’s History Month
Women inventors have played an important role in the innovations of the country and the world over time. According to the USPTO, women's share of new entrants into patent system has increased by 12% since 1980. This Women's History Month, find out the names of these...
Straight from the Headlines: Incorporating Pop Culture & Media into Teaching IP
Intellectual property can be a difficult topic for students to grasp. For educators looking for useful tips and tricks to teach IP to their students, incorporating pop culture and media examples can serve as a valuable tool of discussion in the classroom. Clips such...
Monthly News Roundup – March 2022
Need some good reading material? Here's a quick recap of the top IP news stories and hot topics in IP we loved diving into this month! "Los Angeles restaurateur Andy Nguyen is now planning to open the very first restaurant based on the Bored Ape Yacht Club [NFT...