The University of Akron School of Law, in conjunction with Peking University Law School, the Washington, D.C. law firm of Sughrue Mion and the Beijing law firm of Tongshang, sponsored a program in Beijing, China May 17-19 on issues relating to U.S. intellectual property law. The focus of the program was on the recent changes to U.S. patent law set forth in the America Invents Act. The program included sessions on U.S. trademark law and Section 337 practice.
The sessions included speakers from both the U.S. and China. Speakers from China included representatives of the judiciary, the Chinese Patent Office, practicing attorneys, and law professors. The U.S. Embassy's Economics Minister Counselor, Hanscom Smith, will deliver a luncheon address.
The program was organized by the director of Akron Law's IP program, Professor Jeffrey M. Samuels, along with attorneys from the Sughrue Mion firm and Professor Yang Ming, of Peking University, who served as a visiting professor at Akron Law last winter.
The University of Akron School of Law and Peking University Law School signed a memorandum of understanding regarding cooperation in the area of intellectual property law in 2011. Professor Samuels will be teaching a course at Peking University later this spring. He will also be making a presentation at the program with Jody Haller Drake, partner at Sughrue Mion.
The IP Center manages the Intellectual Property Law Program at Akron Law. Nationally respected, The Center administers one of the most comprehensive intellectual property programs in the country, offering over 20 courses in the field. The Center also administers the law school’s Master of Laws in Intellectual Property program and the joint J.D./LL.M. program in intellectual property law. The latter program enables students to earn both degrees in three years of full-time study, plus at least one summer session. In addition to the annual Symposium, the Center also invites distinguished speakers to campus and sponsors an annual IP Scholars Forum and other events. Learn more at uakron.edu/law/ip .