Thursday, November 20, 2008 • 2:00 p.m. Central Time

As new technologies are being developed, it is incumbent upon biofuels producers to protect their intellectual property (IP).

Richard B. Hoffman, with Marshall, Gerstein, & Borun LLP of Chicago, is a widely regarded intellectual property law attorney in the United States and abroad.

He will provide a summary of the types of IP, pitfalls to avoid, and tips on protecting your intellectual property during a webinar, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m. Central.

Summary of different types of IP pertinent to biofuels industry and issues of import:

• Patents: Basic requirements for utility patent; types of inventions patents will protect; Composition, Method, and System/Apparatus patents; business method patents (e.g. with carbon credits); Petitions  to Make Special; Joint developments; and ownership issues.
  
  
• Biofuels patents -Some challenges in getting biofuels patents.
  
  
• Common IP pitfalls:  Searching; Freedom-to-Operate opinions; using  CDAs.
  
  
• Trade Secrets:  Innovations covered; Trade Secret protection programs; "reverse engineering"
  
  
• Licensing:  Importance of; reasons to license; types of relevant llicenses and contracts.
  
  
• Examples of biofuels IP-related litigation/controversies.
  
  
• Competitive IP intelligence.
  
  
• "Free patent" website to use.

This is an audio broadcast with a live powerpoint presentation.

High speed internet is required for this event.

To register, click here.

Any questions, call Webinar Manager Lauren Colee at 800-728-7511.