Department of Biomedical Engineering and
Computational Science
Aalto University, School of Science

Hall F255, House of Physics, Otakaari 3, Espoo, Finland

Description: This course covers the basics of efficient utilization of immaterial property rights (IPR). IPR is an increasingly important resource for businesses, universities and other organizations to protect their research and development results. Like any other activities IPR needs to be planned and managed in order to get the full benefit out of it.

The course includes all elements necessary for effective IPR utilization – basics of IPR, tools to search for patents and freedom to operate space (FTO), analysis methods for competitive activity as well as strategic planning of IPR in different competitive situations. The course is recommended for all graduate school members, especially if you are interested in R&D and commercial utilization of inventions.

Lecturer: Jan Ekström

Assistant: Rauli Albert, firstname.lastname(at)tkk.fi

Contents: 20 lectures

Course Director: Prof. Ari Koskelainen

Registration: by Aug 21st to the coordinator Riikka Ahola, firstname.surname(at)oulu.fi

Program and topics:(pdf)

21.9. at 12 - 17:45
Introduction, what immaterial rights are
Patents in practise
Anatomy of a patent
Patenting process
patent as an investment + case
Examples
Trade secret vs patent
Utility model
Trade mark and branding
Databases
Copyright
Inventions in universities
Inventions and employment

22.9. at 8 - 16:45
Patent databases and FTO
Case study: What could you have patented?
IP strategy introduction
Goals of IP strategy
IP analysis of a company
IP analysis of competitors
Managing an IP portfolio
IP strategy in competitive situations
Pioneer + case
Defensive + case
Common Playground + case
Hostile Environment + case

23.9. at 8 - 12:30
Case study: IP strategy for a virtual company
Patent infringements + case
Licensing
Finnish activities
The Foundation for Finnish Inventions
National Board of patents and Registrations
Summary