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Intellectual Property & Dealmaking (LAWS 5322)

Course Info

This course will provide you the opportunity to engage as an Intellectual Property (IP) specialist in a simulated M&A (merger and acquisition) corporate transaction. You will assume the role of an associate attorney in a law firm and handle certain aspects of the sale of assets of a business, including engaging in due diligence, reviewing and drafting documents, conducting research, analyzing negotiation techniques, learning about the specialist's role in the transaction, and preparing for the closing of the transaction. Particular emphasis will be upon IP licensing (e.g., patent licenses, trademark licenses, etc.), such as reviewing and drafting IP licensing documents. You will learn skills that an IP lawyer should have by working on and resolving IP issues from actual projects. Accordingly, it is vital to your success in this course that you complete all assignments on time and actively participate in each class. Although this course is set within the context of a company acquisition, most of the IP issues you will be analyzing are generally applicable to many other projects that an IP associate will confront.

Instructor

Prof. John Biernacki

Prof. John Biernacki is a practicing attorney and Adjunct Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University.

Syllabus

The syllabus for your course is available on Canvas.

Textbook

Study Aids

These study aids are available online.  Please click the hyperlinked title to view them. For instructions on how to use the specific platforms, including troubleshooting, please view Andy Dorchak's Study Aids Research Guide.

CALI

Computer-Aided Legal Instruction (CALI) requires an authorization code to use. If you do not have a CALI account, please contact Kieran Layton or the reference desk for assistance.

CALI (Computer Assisted Legal Instruction) Trademark Assignments & Licenses lessonCALI (Computer Assisted Legal Instruction) TRIPS – Advanced Topics lesson

Quimbee

If you have not registered your Quimbee account, please contact Kieran Layton or the reference desk for assistance.

Quimbee Patent Licensing lesson

Audio Guides

Research Guide

 Course Guides