From the sphere of intellectual property practice or technology transfer practice - there is such a thing as "technology transfer practice" and there are such people as "technology transfer practitioners" - and they aren't all lawyers, although many of them are, as are the authors of subject book. See http://www.core77.com/blog/book_reviews/book_review_from_edison_to_ipod_by_frederick_mostert_and_lawrence_apolzon_5865.asp for a full review.
My take: an entertaining summary intro to a complex topic, though, as the linked review points out, it doesn't give the whole picture of swimming in the IP shark pond. The industrial-design emphasis with lots of pictures made it a fun read, also recalling a related museum fave, http://www.mak.at/e/jetzt/f_jetzt.htm .
For deeper IP inquiries, a couple of possible resources are: The Technology Transfer System, by Alfred Muir http://www.amazon.com/Technology-Transfer-System-Inventions-Management/dp/0965759768 [may be out of print] and Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations http://www.markethightech.net/ - the 2001 edition of which anticipates Clayton Christensen's "disruptive technologies/innovator's dilemma" concept and sources him a number of times; presently in a 3rd edition as an edited volume with Jakki Mohr and co-editors.
Showing posts with label technology commercialization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology commercialization. Show all posts
Monday, January 18, 2010
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Becoming a Patent Agent
This is a possible career switch path for someone with the right degree. To become a patent attorney, you have to become an attorney, meaning law school and the bar exam. To become a patent agent, you don't. You do have to take an exam.
A little info is at http://www.theinstitute.ieee.org/portal/site/tionline/menuitem.130a3558587d56e8fb2275875bac26c8/index.jsp?&pName=institute_level1_article&TheCat=1004&article=tionline/legacy/inst2008/feb08/educationEPP.xml&;jsessionid=h5dpKyghQkMGVL59ywkVNTy5vLzrGpRfX2CD7Lc7M1gpn8RkjnLG!-143611134!2121372814:
Consider Becoming a Patent Agent
Discount on U.S. Patent Bar Exam Course
BY JASON LADAY
While most engineers may be focused on obtaining patents through their own work, many overlook the possibility of becoming U.S. patent agents. Engineers and other scientific professionals are uniquely qualified to become patent agents because of their technical background. And their expertise is sought after by both law firms and corporations.
The main difference between patent agents and patent attorneys is that with their law degrees attorneys can practice law outside the patent office. However, both agents and attorneys must sit and pass the Patent Registration Exam, which tests one’s knowledge of patent law as well as U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policies. Those who become full-time patent agents can go to work at patent law firms.
For those interested in becoming an agent, the IEEE has collaborated with the Practicing Law Institute (PLI) to offer a 10 percent discount on its patent bar review course. This course helps prospective patent agents prepare for the Patent Registration Exam, better known as the patent bar exam. PLI is a nonprofit organization that provides continuing education courses for lawyers but has recently expanding its reach to others.
“Our patent bar review course is the first in existence to our knowledge,” says the institute’s training services director, Mark Dighton. “Until recently we have focused on lawyers and law students but want to reach out to engineers who are interested in becoming patent agents.”
One of the main requirements to sit for the patent bar exam is an undergraduate degree in engineering or other hard science, including chemistry, biology, physics, or computer science. According to PLI, the average lawyer or law student has no significant advantage over an engineer with no legal experience in taking the exam because the test is more about knowing procedural details than actual patent law.
“Engineers often decide on becoming patent agents because it broadens their career opportunities,” Dighton says. ”It’s diverse and fascinating work and keeps you on the cutting edge of the engineering profession.” Patent agents are sought after by law firms and corporations.
COURSE DETAILS The review course can be taken on your own at home or in a classroom with a teacher. All students receive a set of written materials, including practice books and an audio CD of all lectures. Those taking the home study route will also receive DVDs replicating the live lectures and question reviews.
The live courses are a series of five-day lectures and exercises that last 10 hours each day. Courses are scheduled throughout the year in Boston; Chicago; Costa Mesa, Calif.; Houston; New York; San Francisco; and the Washington, D.C. area.
According to PLI, those planning to take the exam should set aside at least 150 to 200 hours of study, in chunks of three to four hours at a time spread over a month or two. Ideally, one would take the course sometime in the middle of this period, continuing to review the material even after the course has ended. Course materials must be returned after the exam.
For more information on PLI, the Patent Bar Review Course, and the Patent Bar Exam, visit http://www.pli.edu/barreview/patentbar/engineer_corner.asp
Also see http://inventors.about.com/od/patentattorneys/ht/patent_agent.htm
and
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/attorney.htm.
I don't know any patent agents, don't know what they do day-to-day, who hires them, how business comes to them, etc. It would be interesting to get some stories about how this has worked out for people as a career shift.
A little info is at http://www.theinstitute.ieee.org/portal/site/tionline/menuitem.130a3558587d56e8fb2275875bac26c8/index.jsp?&pName=institute_level1_article&TheCat=1004&article=tionline/legacy/inst2008/feb08/educationEPP.xml&;jsessionid=h5dpKyghQkMGVL59ywkVNTy5vLzrGpRfX2CD7Lc7M1gpn8RkjnLG!-143611134!2121372814:
Consider Becoming a Patent Agent
Discount on U.S. Patent Bar Exam Course
BY JASON LADAY
While most engineers may be focused on obtaining patents through their own work, many overlook the possibility of becoming U.S. patent agents. Engineers and other scientific professionals are uniquely qualified to become patent agents because of their technical background. And their expertise is sought after by both law firms and corporations.
The main difference between patent agents and patent attorneys is that with their law degrees attorneys can practice law outside the patent office. However, both agents and attorneys must sit and pass the Patent Registration Exam, which tests one’s knowledge of patent law as well as U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policies. Those who become full-time patent agents can go to work at patent law firms.
For those interested in becoming an agent, the IEEE has collaborated with the Practicing Law Institute (PLI) to offer a 10 percent discount on its patent bar review course. This course helps prospective patent agents prepare for the Patent Registration Exam, better known as the patent bar exam. PLI is a nonprofit organization that provides continuing education courses for lawyers but has recently expanding its reach to others.
“Our patent bar review course is the first in existence to our knowledge,” says the institute’s training services director, Mark Dighton. “Until recently we have focused on lawyers and law students but want to reach out to engineers who are interested in becoming patent agents.”
One of the main requirements to sit for the patent bar exam is an undergraduate degree in engineering or other hard science, including chemistry, biology, physics, or computer science. According to PLI, the average lawyer or law student has no significant advantage over an engineer with no legal experience in taking the exam because the test is more about knowing procedural details than actual patent law.
“Engineers often decide on becoming patent agents because it broadens their career opportunities,” Dighton says. ”It’s diverse and fascinating work and keeps you on the cutting edge of the engineering profession.” Patent agents are sought after by law firms and corporations.
COURSE DETAILS The review course can be taken on your own at home or in a classroom with a teacher. All students receive a set of written materials, including practice books and an audio CD of all lectures. Those taking the home study route will also receive DVDs replicating the live lectures and question reviews.
The live courses are a series of five-day lectures and exercises that last 10 hours each day. Courses are scheduled throughout the year in Boston; Chicago; Costa Mesa, Calif.; Houston; New York; San Francisco; and the Washington, D.C. area.
According to PLI, those planning to take the exam should set aside at least 150 to 200 hours of study, in chunks of three to four hours at a time spread over a month or two. Ideally, one would take the course sometime in the middle of this period, continuing to review the material even after the course has ended. Course materials must be returned after the exam.
For more information on PLI, the Patent Bar Review Course, and the Patent Bar Exam, visit http://www.pli.edu/barreview/patentbar/engineer_corner.asp
Also see http://inventors.about.com/od/patentattorneys/ht/patent_agent.htm
and
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/attorney.htm.
I don't know any patent agents, don't know what they do day-to-day, who hires them, how business comes to them, etc. It would be interesting to get some stories about how this has worked out for people as a career shift.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
MS in Technology Commercialization
After seeing the Texas program in the Sept Fasttrack and doing some searches, I was stunned: "technology commercialization" as a search term is way hot, especially for life-hack graduate degrees.
Lots of hits, not just in North America. But they ain't cheap. Trying to solve the problem of bang-for-the-buck. I hope there's a lot of bang, because the ones so far all involve a lot of bucks.
Programs:
Univ. of Texas MSTC: http://www.ic2.utexas.edu/mstc/
Unfortunately this is an "elite executive degree" which means it's probably expensive and not very accessible - not factors if you can get an employer to send you and pay for it, but if you're trying to do your own lifehack, not realistic. Candidates learn to identify and evaluate emerging technologies, identify customers and marketing strategies, develop broad, flexible business plans, build a high-functioning management team to drive the new venture, devise approaches for securing funding and manage and protect intellectual property. Also see http://www.uniguru.com/studyabroad/United-States-courses/Master-Science-Technology-Commercialization-course-details/cseid/602082/cid/72181/programs.html for this and other interesting leads.
====
Northeastern Univ. MSTC: http://www.cps.neu.edu/mstc/
Online (good) - $514 per quarter hour. A MSTC degree is 40 quarter hours (? - courses are 3 hours each), so the whole thing ends up costing over $20000. Does anyone else think that's a lot of money? Wonder if you ever make it back. Still, looks interesting and the individual course tuition could be worse.
====
Penn Master of Technology Management: http://www.emtm.upenn.edu/companies/industries/technology_commercialization.html
Probably $expensive$ but Penn is an Ivy League school, so prestigious. Prestige might be worth paying for.
====
Maryland MS in Telecommunications: http://www.telecom.umd.edu/current/OTC.html -- comes out of their Office of Technology Commercialization.
Also see their UMUC Doctor of Management: http://www.umuc.edu/programs/grad/dm/
Requires 48 hours of classes plus research. Fall 2009 tuition is $1087 a credit - the 48 credits will run a cool $52176, assuming the tuition doesn't increase (it will).
====
NIH/FAES: http://www.faes.org/graduate_school.htm
Interesting program if you're in the Washington DC area and can get to NIH (not online), but doesn't lead to a degree; none of FAES's courses do. You can get a 15-credit "certificate" (5 courses) in Technology Transfer. Courses are $345 a credit so that works out to $5175 outlay plus books plus getting there.
If you try to transfer these credits, no guarantees. Most graduate programs won't transfer more than 6 hours (2 courses). Something to consider.
====
Also see http://www.slideshare.net/infoDevSlides/technology-commercialization-handbook .
Lots of hits, not just in North America. But they ain't cheap. Trying to solve the problem of bang-for-the-buck. I hope there's a lot of bang, because the ones so far all involve a lot of bucks.
Programs:
Univ. of Texas MSTC: http://www.ic2.utexas.edu/mstc/
Unfortunately this is an "elite executive degree" which means it's probably expensive and not very accessible - not factors if you can get an employer to send you and pay for it, but if you're trying to do your own lifehack, not realistic. Candidates learn to identify and evaluate emerging technologies, identify customers and marketing strategies, develop broad, flexible business plans, build a high-functioning management team to drive the new venture, devise approaches for securing funding and manage and protect intellectual property. Also see http://www.uniguru.com/studyabroad/United-States-courses/Master-Science-Technology-Commercialization-course-details/cseid/602082/cid/72181/programs.html for this and other interesting leads.
====
Northeastern Univ. MSTC: http://www.cps.neu.edu/mstc/
Online (good) - $514 per quarter hour. A MSTC degree is 40 quarter hours (? - courses are 3 hours each), so the whole thing ends up costing over $20000. Does anyone else think that's a lot of money? Wonder if you ever make it back. Still, looks interesting and the individual course tuition could be worse.
====
Penn Master of Technology Management: http://www.emtm.upenn.edu/companies/industries/technology_commercialization.html
Probably $expensive$ but Penn is an Ivy League school, so prestigious. Prestige might be worth paying for.
====
Maryland MS in Telecommunications: http://www.telecom.umd.edu/current/OTC.html -- comes out of their Office of Technology Commercialization.
Also see their UMUC Doctor of Management: http://www.umuc.edu/programs/grad/dm/
Requires 48 hours of classes plus research. Fall 2009 tuition is $1087 a credit - the 48 credits will run a cool $52176, assuming the tuition doesn't increase (it will).
====
NIH/FAES: http://www.faes.org/graduate_school.htm
Interesting program if you're in the Washington DC area and can get to NIH (not online), but doesn't lead to a degree; none of FAES's courses do. You can get a 15-credit "certificate" (5 courses) in Technology Transfer. Courses are $345 a credit so that works out to $5175 outlay plus books plus getting there.
If you try to transfer these credits, no guarantees. Most graduate programs won't transfer more than 6 hours (2 courses). Something to consider.
====
Also see http://www.slideshare.net/infoDevSlides/technology-commercialization-handbook .
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