DABUS, short for Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience, is an artificial intelligence (“AI”) machine that can invent and generate new ideas without any human input. DABUS is a form of neurocomputing and in some sense, DABUS may be said to mimic aspects of human brain function. DABUS and its creator Dr. Stephen Thaler have garnered worldwide attention when patent applications naming DABUS as the sole inventor were filed in several national patent offices. These filings have spurred meaningful discussion about AI-related inventorship and ownership and patents have been granted in Australia and South Africa.

In Canada, Deeth Williams Wall LLP is the agent of record for the DABUS patent application. The application can be found here: 

Deeth Williams Wall is currently preparing to respond to CIPO’s objection (which can be found at the link above) and is looking for a few students to assist by researching case law and helping to develop argumentation to support the application.

Research will be conducted during the winter term and may be conducted remotely. Research may be conducted on the student’s own time with regular project check-ins.

Researchers should have a strong background and interest in IP, with a specific interest in patents.  An interest in technology is an asset but not required for the role.

Inquiries may be sent to Jennifer Davidson at the contact information below.

Applicants may choose to perform this research for academic credit under Prof. Pina D'Agostino's supervision.�� If so, please contact Ms. Davidson before Tuesday, January 18th at noon and confirm:

1. Your interest in performing the research for academic credit; and
2. The course(s) that you would drop if offered this position.

To apply, please send a CV and writing sample (preferably a research memo or excerpt from one) to Jennifer Davidson, Technology and IP Law Associate, Deeth Williams Wall LLP at jdavidson@dww.com by 5pm on January 18th.��

The post CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - IP Researchers Needed for DABUS Patent Application appeared first on IPOsgoode.

Students enrolled in the moot have the distinct opportunity to be coached by lawyers at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP and former Osgoode team members, receive guidance from faculty advisors who founded the moot, and, if selected for the oral rounds, practice in front of judges on IP Osgoode's Advisory Board.��

We thank all interested applicants and continue to look forward to another great year in the Oxford Moot.

***

To try out, please refer to the fact problem attached to this email. Each entrant must prepare skeleton arguments of no more than 3 double-spaced pages (excluding a table of authorities) addressing the copyright issue on behalf of the appellant��������. You will then be required to present a 10-minute oral argument, which will include responding to questions from the tryout judges.

Please contact Ashley Moniz (amoniz@osgoode.yorku.ca)��as soon as possible to indicate your interest and receive further instructions.��Please include the following email subject heading in all communications: “Oxford Moot 2021/22 Tryouts – [FIRST & LAST NAME]”.

Following the tryouts, the Moots & Skills Program Director will contact successful applicants directly.

Please note that Rule 5.1(e) of the Academic Rules prohibits enrollment in more than one competitive lawyering simulation competition in any single academic year.

The team will be mentored by Prof. David Vaver and Prof. Pina D’Agostino and coached by a select team of IP practitioners on appellate advocacy. For their participation, students receive 3 graded credits for preparing their written arguments and 2 credits for the oral rounds if they advance. All credits are allocated to the Winter Term.

If you have any further questions, require special accommodations, or need more information, please email Ashley directly at amoniz@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Thank you for your interest, we look forward to another exciting year with the Oxford IP Moot!

The post Oxford IP Moot Tryouts EXTENDED appeared first on IPOsgoode.

To try out, please refer to the fact problem attached to this email. Each entrant must prepare skeleton arguments of no more than 3 double-spaced pages (excluding a table of authorities) addressing the copyright issue on behalf of the appellant in . You will then be required to present a 10-minute oral argument, which will include responding to questions from the tryout judges.

Please contact Ashley Moniz (amoniz@osgoode.yorku.ca) by Monday to indicate your interest and availability via Zoom between 1pm and 5pm on October 5^th and 7^th. Following this, you will have until October 4^th at 3pm to send us your skeleton arguments. Please include the following email subject heading in all communications: “Oxford Moot 2021/22 Tryouts – [FIRST & LAST NAME]”.

Following the tryouts, the Moots & Skills Program Director will contact successful applicants directly.

Please note that Rule 5.1(e) of the Academic Rules prohibits enrollment in more than one competitive lawyering simulation competition in any single academic year.

The team will be mentored by Prof. David Vaver and Prof. Pina D’Agostino and coached by a select team of IP practitioners on appellate advocacy. For their participation, students receive 3 graded credits for preparing their written arguments and 2 credits for the oral rounds if they advance. All credits are allocated to the Winter Term.

If you have any further questions, require special accommodations, or need more information, please email Ashley directly at amoniz@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Thank you for your interest, we look forward to another exciting year with the Oxford IP Moot!

The post REMINDER: Oxford IP Moot Tryouts are Next Week! appeared first on IPOsgoode.

Top Row: John Heburn (CEO, Mitacs), Androu Waheeb (IP Innovation Clinic Fellow), Naseem Bawa (General Counsel, InteraXon Inc. Bottom Row: The Honourable Doug Downey (Minister of the Attorney General of Ontario), Prof Pina D'Agostino (Founder & Director of IP Osgoode), The Honourable Ross Romano (Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities)

Yesterday, the Government of Ontario formally announced their funding of thousands of student internships through Mitacs. The announcement was made during a press conference held by the Honourable Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, and featured the Honourable Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario, and John Hepburn, CEO of Mitacs. As Principal Investigator of 3 projects in the inaugural year of Mitacs' Business Strategy Internship (BSI) Program, Prof Pina D’Agostino was also invited to be part of the festivities, along with Naseem Bawa, General Counsel for InteraXon Inc., and Androu Waheeb, 1L IP Innovation Clinic Fellow who will complete a BSI at InteraXon this summer.

Minister Romano announced that the Government has granted $39.5 million to Mitacs to fund internships that give students, post-doctoral researchers, and businesses more hands-on, real world experience in the field of their choice. Of the hundreds of internships offered across the country, roughly 100 are in their intellectual property stream.

Ministers Romano and Downey repeatedly stressed the importance of investing in Ontario IP rightsholders and empowering SMEs to take advantage of the intangible economy. In particular, Minister Romano pointed out that foreign entities take advantage of Ontario’s IP resources which remain inaccessible for local innovators. As such, this internship is not only an important investment for potential rightsholders, but also for students who will be business-owners commercializing IP and lawyers protecting their rights.

Mitacs CEO John Hepburn stressed the importance of this new collaboration in helping businesses to succeed at every stage of their journey. In the context of Mitacs’ goal of promoting growth and innovation in Canada, Mr. Hepburn introduced the goal of the BSI program: helping SMEs to address specific needs in order to pivot their businesses in response to the pandemic. In particular, because IP literacy is crucial in the early stages of a business, many student interns will offer valuable IP insight (with academic supervision) to help SMEs develop IP strategy in the initial stages of their business.

Prof D’Agostino spoke for the huge impact that this program will have on the students involved and the experience that it offers for them. After a quick but forceful plug for IP Innovation Clinic’s work in supporting IP strategy for SMEs to date, she highlighted our students’ growing need for employment opportunities like this. The combination of education with intention and work with grassroots organizations in turn empowers the Canadian economy.

Naseem Bawa briefly spoke about InteraXon Inc’s strategic IP investments protecting a wide range of their innovations, and the importance of protecting IP for small businesses. Businesses, according to Naseem, need a layered approach to IP that goes beyond registering it: they need support to enhance, protect, and strategically enforce their IP rights. This takes time and resources, but is critical for the future of both Canada and its companies, further stressing the impact of programs like this. Androu Waheeb rounded out the speakers, expressing his sincere gratitude for this opportunity and the ways in which it will prepare him to follow his dream of becoming an IP lawyer.

We would like to thank the Government of Ontario and Mitacs for supporting this program and our incredible students, whom we wish the best of luck in their internships!

The post Prof Pina D’Agostino & IP Osgoode featured in Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities Announcement appeared first on IPOsgoode.

Mitacs designed the BSI program for students to find employment this summer and to help participating partner organizations to restore or modify their business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first year that Mitacs will run this program. Our students will be able to further their legal knowledge beyond the classroom through practical work on real world projects.

Here is some more information about each project:

3D Bridge Patenting and Commercialization Research

has developed a secure digital medication platform through which health practitioners and other authorized care providers can connect with patients remotely. The device will help to ensure that the medication is properly administered to patients, specifically the elderly, patients with comorbidities, and those who take addictive or high-cost medication. Krystel Ametepeh, 1L student and IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, will work under the supervision of Karima Bawa, CEO and in-house lawyer of 3D Bridge, to provide legal research services in intellectual property, health and privacy law and to address the legal requirements associated with commercialization amidst this product’s pre-commercial rollout.

Innovative Educational and Marketing Tools for Prospective IP Rights Owners (Bereskin & Parr)

(B&P) has struggled to market their services and educate clients without their usual in-person events. With funding from Mitacs, B&P will hire Bonnie Hassanzadeh, 2L student and IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, to create educational and marketing tools for various purposes, including training for new staff and educating prospective and existing clients. Under the supervision of B&P Partner Reshika Dhir, Bonnie will also research marketing strategies about tailoring these materials to various clientele and determine the most effective media to convey the relevant information. Some of these materials will be available for use by our IP Innovation Clinic.

Interaxon Scaling Project

is a Toronto-based company that helps customers to build rewarding meditation and sleep practices to lead healthier and happier lives. As the COVID-19 pandemic has increased their need to address mental health concerns, Interaxon is looking to increase the commercialization of its products and services. The funding will allow Androu Waheeb, 1L student and IP Innovation Clinic Fellow, to work alongside Naseem Bawa, General Counsel at Interaxon, in developing licensing arrangements for the company’s relevant IP and seeking FDA approval to make Interaxon’s devices more accessible to users.

We are very grateful to Mitacs for approving IP Osgoode's proposals in this inaugural year of their Business Strategy Internship program. We would also like to thank our supervisors at 3D Bridge, Bereskin & Parr, and Interaxon for working hard on such short notice to make space for our students and put our proposals together. We look forward to seeing how our students grow and what they accomplish with our partner organizations.

The post 3 IP Innovation Clinic Fellows to Receive Mitacs Business Strategy Internships appeared first on IPOsgoode.

Positions Available: Innovation Clinic Fellows (2-3 positions).

Students will mostly assist clients with patent or trademark law matters. Their remaining time will be spent working on other IP and start-up business related needs as they arise. Tasks may include:

• Patent prior art searches;
• Trade-mark searches;
• Other tasks as assigned and supervised by the supervising lawyer.

Term: Summer 2021 with the possibility of extension for the school year of 2021/2022.

Commitment: This is a part-time, OPIR qualifying, volunteer position. Fellows are expected to provide approximately 2-3 hours a week with opportunity expand.

Training: While a general understanding of intellectual property law is helpful, interest is more critical.

Qualifications:

• Fellows must be Osgoode Hall Law School students.
• An interest in IP law, technology and commercialization law.
• Responsiveness and a commitment to client service.
• Attention to detail and ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Excellent time-management, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Application Process:

Deadline: Monday, March 22, 2021 at 8 am

Please provide the following materials via email (subject: Application: IP Innovation Clinic Fellow) to iposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca:

• One page cover letter. Please outline your interests in IP law in addition to other areas of interest. For reference, see current fellow bios.
• A copy of your résumé.
• Unofficial grades, if available

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The post CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Summer 2021 IP Innovation Clinic Fellows appeared first on IPOsgoode.

Conference Chair

Prof. Giuseppina D'Agostino
 Founder & Director, IP Osgoode

Including Keynote Addresses from

Sylvain Laporte
Commissioner of Patents, Registrar of Trademarks and CEO,
Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Bill Mantel
Assistant Deputy Minister  - Research, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Division

Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment

Dr. Janusz A. Kozinski
Dean, Lassonde School of Engineering, 91��ɫ

Friday 22 March 2013, 9:00am-3:00pm
Osgoode Hall Law School, 91��ɫ

IP Osgoode and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) are proud to present "Sparking Innovation With Students: Examining the Student Role from Invention to Commercialization", a full day conference highlighting the role that students play in commercializing intellectual property. Student researchers, whether in a university lab or R&D department of an organization, contribute to the development of a research project and are often the innovative force behind a project. The purpose of the conference is to learn from different perspectives on the role of student researchers in commercializing IP and the different policies that have been adopted to provide for the various parties' interests with respect to that IP.

The conference will be comprised of interactive panel sessions to foster discussion. There will be two panels consisting of members from government, industry and universities who will discuss their perspectives on the role of students in commercializing IP and a third panel consisting of student researchers discussing their own experiences in the commercialization process.

During the break and lunch hour there will be display tables for student researchers to showcase their research projects.�� If you would like to display your research poster at the event, please email Michelle Li at iposgoode@osgoode.yorku.ca

Lunch will be served so please RSVP to (Event Code: Sparking) by Wednesday 20 March 2013. All are welcome and there is no registration fee. Click for full details.

The post Sparking Innovation With Students: Examining The Student Role From Invention To Commercialization appeared first on IPOsgoode.