Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property law deals with the creation and protection of intellectual property patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and trademarks. It often incorporates other areas of law, including contract law, tort law, and litigation. IP attorneys generally may counsel owners of intellectual property regarding their property rights, negotiate contracts, draft licenses and agreements to protect those rights, and represent owners in lawsuits enforcing those rights. Patent prosecutors file and register patents with the U.S. Patent Trade Office (USPTO); patent litigators, on the other hand, litigate issues related to specific patents. Patent lawyers are often required to have a technical degree in science or engineering, in addition to a law degree, and to pass the Patent Bar. Intellectual property attorneys may work in large law firms, boutique IP firms, in-house for corporations, or for the USPTO.
Web Resources
- BCG Attorney Search's Guide to Intellectual Property Law – provides a good overview of the different types of intellectual property law practice.
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- Science Journal article - A Career in Biotech Patent Law
- World Intellectual Property Law Association – United Nations agency dedicated to stimulating innovation and creativity through an international intellectual property system
- ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law
- DC Bar Intellectual Property Law Section
- Avery Index IP Blog Highlights – accumulates blog posts from some of the top intellectual property blogs; Avery Index also includes a list of top patent states, and patent firms by state
- Intellectual Property Today – publishes monthly on legal issues in patent, trademark, and copyright law; also has a Job Opportunities section
