Intellectual Property CLE
Quimbee's intellectual property continuing legal education (CLE) courses deliver the content lawyers need with engaging videos that are fun to watch.
Start your FREE 7-day trial
Intellectual Property FAQ
Quimbee Intellectual Property Law CLE Online
If you’re looking for a simple, engaging way to learn about intellectual property law and fulfill your continuing legal education (CLE) requirements, look no further than Quimbee CLE online.
All Quimbee CLE online courses are built from the ground up by our world-class team of attorneys and designers. Our goal is to create a product that will not only help you meet your CLE requirements but will actually be enjoyable. Sign up for a Quimbee CLE course today!
An Overview of Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property (IP) refers to intangible creations owned by individuals or organizations and protected by law. Congress derives its power to regulate intellectual property from Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution, which is known as the Copyright Clause or Intellectual Property Clause. Generally, IP is divided into four categories: patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets.
Copyright refers to the exclusive right to reproduce a particular work. The U.S. Copyright Act (Copyright Act), 17 U.S.C. §§ 101–810, is the primary piece of legislation protecting copyright. The Copyright Act covers all works fixed in a “tangible medium of expression.” In Feist Publications v. Rural Telephone Service, 499 U.S. 340 (1991), the U.S. Supreme Court stated that a work must have "some minimal degree of creativity” to be considered a copyrightable work. Copyright law features an extensive jurisprudence dedicated to determining the bounds of protection.
A patent gives its owner the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, or selling the patented invention. 35 U.S.C. § 101 provides a broad definition of patentable subject matter, stating that anyone who “invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof” may seek a patent. For an invention to be patentable, the invention must be useful, novel, and nonobvious.
A trademark is any word, name, or symbol, used to identify and distinguish one manufacturer or seller from others. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, outlines federal trademark protection. For a mark to be eligible for trademark protection, the mark must be used in commerce and be distinctive.
A trade secret is business information that has economic value because it is not generally known or readily ascertainable. The Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) is a piece of legislation that has been adopted by 47 states and the District of Columbia (Delaware is one example of a state that has adopted a version of the UTSA). The UTSA lays out the elements and remedies of a trade-secret claim.
Who Should Take CLE Courses in Intellectual Property Law?
As innovation continues, intellectual property law will remain a fast-developing field. Not only must IP attorneys be aware of new laws relevant to their work, but they must also stay abreast of the latest technological advances that could create entirely new markets. Quimbee CLE may not be able to help IP attorneys predict the future, but we can provide efficient, effective courses on IP law that will help lawyers fulfill their CLE requirements while staying updated on the newest developments in the law.
You might also be interested in...
Whiskey Business: The Legal Hurdles to Launching and Operating a Craft Distillery
Enterprising craft distillery owners cannot afford to be absinthe-minded when it comes to the thicket of federal, state, and local laws regulating distilleries. In this introduction to distillery law, we cover some of the major hurdles to launching and operating a craft distillery, including federal licensing, state and municipal permitting, labeling, and trademark. We also introduce hot-button issues and distill some best practices for proactive protection of distillery owners who are navigating the whiskey business of producing craft spirits.
Introduction to Copyright Law: The Charles Dickens of Law
Copyright Law can be the Charles Dickens of the law. It can be the best of times; it can be the worst of times. It truly is A Tale of Two Scenarios. If the attorney handling the copyright matter for the client is well prepared, does the initial research, and understands the general principles, it will be the best of times—going from initial application through final issuance and, possibly, victory at trial. If the attorney handling the copyright matter is unprepared, does not conduct sufficient research ahead of time, or does not understand the general principles of copyright law, then it will be the worst of times. The initial application may result in rejection from the U.S. Copyright Office, or the attorney could find himself embroiled in protracted and, ultimately, unsuccessful copyright-infringement litigation. In this introduction to Copyright Law, we cover the basics from application through litigation in an effort to ensure the attorney practices Copyright Law in the best of times.
Introduction to Trademark Law - An Overview from the PTO's Pet Peeves in Applying for a Trademark to Proving Infringement in Federal Court
Young and old attorneys can always learn something about Trademark Law. In this introduction to Trademarks, attorneys learn the basics of Trademark Law from prosecution of a Trademark to obtain one through litigation when a Trademark is infringed. The presentation is broken down into three sections. First, the results of an interview with a Trademark Examiner from the United States Patent and Trademark Office about her prosecution pet peeves is addressed. Second, the basics of Trademarks is presented. Third, a sample case on Trademark infringement is thoroughly analyzed and discussed.
An Introduction to Patent Law
Patent Law is a very complex and specialized area of the law. Regardless of whether the attorney is simply searching for existing patents for a client, applying for a patent, or litigating in a patent-infringement case, the attorney will encounter aspects of the law and specific requirements that are not found in any other area of the law. In this introduction to Patent Law, we cover some of the basic aspects of each of those tasks: searching for patents, applying for patents, and engaging in patent litigation. We also address two lesser known patent-related subject matters—Patent Misuse and Joint Inventorship—and analyze two recent federal district court cases that focus on the topics.
Ethics and the IP Attorney - Serving Two Masters
Intellectual Property Law is different than most areas of the law. In particular, attorneys that prosecute patents and file applications for trademarks practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). As such, those attorneys—who are required to be licensed by a state and, thus, subject to its Model Rules of Professional Conduct—are also subject to and must follow the USPTO’s Rules of Professional Conduct. In this Overview on Ethics and the IP Attorney, attorneys learn some of the similarities and differences between the two sets of ethical rules, as well as analyze cases addressing some IP-specific ethical issues.
Introduction to Cybersquatting - What the Heck Is It & How Do You Prevail at It?
Before the Internet, there was no such thing as cybersquatting. But once the Internet came into existence, domain-name disputes soon followed. Although cybersquatting does not fit into the traditional trademark paradigm, in 1999 Congress passed The Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act ("ACPA"), 15 U.S.C. 1125(d), and it became part of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., which is the primary federal trademark statute in the United States. The ACPA established a legal recourse for entities who are the victims of others registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name that is confusingly similar to, or dilutive of, an entity's trademark or a person's name. In this "Introduction to Cybersquatting", attorneys learn the origins and history of cybersquatting, as well as the elements of the cause of action. Participants will also analyze several cases in which courts have addressed cybersquatting at various stages of litigation.
Intellectual Property for the General Lawyer: Transactions and Litigation Pitfalls
In this IP analysis for transactional lawyers in due diligence or representing small/medium businesses, we look at the major areas of IP law to understand what the IP assets are exactly, how to make sure they are valuable assets and scheduled properly, how to assess if there is potential value that is being missed, and registration regimes for different IP classes to guarantee the most protection. Along the way we offer lots of practice pointers for issue spotting so you do not make mistakes interacting with IP assets, which in many respects differ in basal assumptions about ownership compared to real property assets.
Fashionably Legal: Fashion and Intellectual Property
This course will provide an overview of fashion law and how it intersects with intellectual property. The course will touch on more commonly known areas of fashion including apparel, shoes, and accessories. This course also will address how fashion is going beyond just the clothes or the accessories themselves and now reaching more into technology including supply chain optimization, virtual fitting rooms, and wardrobe recommendations using artificial intelligence (AI).
Domestic Violence and Sports
Domestic violence and sexual violence allegations against professional sports players have appeared frequently in the headlines in the last several years – as have accusations that player’s governing organizations have failed to address or prevent these incidents. This course will explore the various legal systems and mechanisms that might be at play when a professional athlete is accused of domestic violence, the various approaches that the player’s organizations have taken to address and prevent domestic violence within player’s contracts and collective bargaining agreements, and takeaways for attorneys who might become involved in these cases.
Get Off My Lawn: Patent Litigation and the Right to Exclude
Own a patent, now what? Only patent owners can enforce their right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or offering to sell their invention. In this introduction to patent litigation, we breakdown the major steps necessary to file and pursue a patent infringement complaint in U.S. district court. We also discuss the importance of claim construction and selecting the right forum. Participants in this course will gain a general understanding of the key step when enforcing a patent owner’s right to exclude.
Copyright Issues: Google v Oracle
This course will provide an overview of copyright law following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Google v. Oracle. This course will discuss what happened in Google v. Oracle, address several cases that have been or may be implicated following Google v. Oracle, and then cover issues that remain to be resolved following Google v. Oracle.
IP Strategies, Enforcement Considerations, and Potential Ethical Pitfalls in the Quasi-Legal Cannabis Industry
Notwithstanding its illegality under federal law, cannabis is now legal for medical and/or adult recreational use in a majority of states. The tension between state and federal law (and the newness of a quasi-legal cannabis industry), however, complicates the legal representation of cannabis industry clients and raises potential ethical pitfalls. The representation of cannabis clients in Intellectual Property (IP) matters is no exception and implicates unique strategic concerns.
Gender Gap in the Patent Process
This course will provide an overview of issues related to the gender gap and patents as well as patent law. The course will focus on the 2019 “Progress and Potential: A Profile of women inventors on U.S. patents” published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as well as the 2020 update on women inventor-patentees. The course will then look at the gender gap and patent law, both in terms of practicing before the USPTO as well as attorneys involved in patent litigation. The course will also highlight efforts being made to close the gender gap when it comes to patents and what else may be done.
Trademark Issues for Businesses in the Food, Energy, and Water Sectors
This course will provide an overview of trademarks including how to select, register, and maintain. The course will then discuss a number of recent court decisions relating to trademarks in the food, energy, and water sectors.
The Big Patent Picture: A Strategic Overview of The Patent Ecosystem, Including Patent Procurement, Licensing, Investment, Enforcement, and Defense
This course provides an overview of the essentials of Intellectual Property (IP) that all attorneys and entrepreneurs should know, including the types of IP, procurement basics and strategies, enforcement, defense, and how to mitigate IP litigation risk. The course further provides an overarching explanation of the full patent lifecycle as to enable participants to assess whether, why, how, and when obtaining patent protections might be worthwhile for a particular business endeavor.
The Ethical Patent Lawyer – A Primer on the Ethics and Regulation of Patent Prosecutors
This 60 minute CLE is geared towards registered patent practitioners and their support staff in understanding the obligations of patent lawyers. This IP Ethics CLE will cover topics including conflicts of interest, candor requirements, unauthorized practice of law, working with foreign associates, export control issues, and more.
NFTs & IP - Intro and Current Events/Legal Considerations
NFTs have been all over the news lately. You have likely heard about them but do you really understand how they work and the intellectual property issues that can arise with their use? This program will provide a clear explanation of what NFTs are and the underlying technology so you can more fully understand how they work and what you need to know to provide NFT-related legal advice. This program will also cover key issues with IP protection and enforcement, NFT license and partnership agreements and provide a summary of real world examples of IP-related legal disputes with NFTs and practical advise for avoiding such disputes.
Whiskey Business: The Legal Hurdles to Launching and Operating a Craft Distillery
Enterprising craft distillery owners cannot afford to be absinthe-minded when it comes to the thicket of federal, state, and local laws regulating distilleries. In this introduction to distillery law, we cover some of the major hurdles to launching and operating a craft distillery, including federal licensing, state and municipal permitting, labeling, and trademark. We also introduce hot-button issues and distill some best practices for proactive protection of distillery owners who are navigating the whiskey business of producing craft spirits.
Introduction to Copyright Law: The Charles Dickens of Law
Copyright Law can be the Charles Dickens of the law. It can be the best of times; it can be the worst of times. It truly is A Tale of Two Scenarios. If the attorney handling the copyright matter for the client is well prepared, does the initial research, and understands the general principles, it will be the best of times—going from initial application through final issuance and, possibly, victory at trial. If the attorney handling the copyright matter is unprepared, does not conduct sufficient research ahead of time, or does not understand the general principles of copyright law, then it will be the worst of times. The initial application may result in rejection from the U.S. Copyright Office, or the attorney could find himself embroiled in protracted and, ultimately, unsuccessful copyright-infringement litigation. In this introduction to Copyright Law, we cover the basics from application through litigation in an effort to ensure the attorney practices Copyright Law in the best of times.
Introduction to Trademark Law - An Overview from the PTO's Pet Peeves in Applying for a Trademark to Proving Infringement in Federal Court
Young and old attorneys can always learn something about Trademark Law. In this introduction to Trademarks, attorneys learn the basics of Trademark Law from prosecution of a Trademark to obtain one through litigation when a Trademark is infringed. The presentation is broken down into three sections. First, the results of an interview with a Trademark Examiner from the United States Patent and Trademark Office about her prosecution pet peeves is addressed. Second, the basics of Trademarks is presented. Third, a sample case on Trademark infringement is thoroughly analyzed and discussed.
An Introduction to Patent Law
Patent Law is a very complex and specialized area of the law. Regardless of whether the attorney is simply searching for existing patents for a client, applying for a patent, or litigating in a patent-infringement case, the attorney will encounter aspects of the law and specific requirements that are not found in any other area of the law. In this introduction to Patent Law, we cover some of the basic aspects of each of those tasks: searching for patents, applying for patents, and engaging in patent litigation. We also address two lesser known patent-related subject matters—Patent Misuse and Joint Inventorship—and analyze two recent federal district court cases that focus on the topics.