ENTR 315 - Protecting Ideas and Innovation

Prerequisite, ENTR 310. How, and to what extent, do patents and other intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets) really provide a competitive advantage for new product and service companies, and how does IP drive shareholder value? What makes IP assets strategically powerful tools? How does IP impact, and even drive, major corporate decisions including M&A, venture funding and exits, and entry into new markets? In this course, students will learn to critically analyze and answer these questions, gaining insights they can leverage in their future roles as innovation industry executives, entrepreneurs, strategists, and investors. The course includes topics on: Patents and Innovation Value; Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets: Students will examine closely the relationship between competitive advantage, value proposition, and intellectual property (particularly patents). Limits and Alternatives to Patents: Students will confront the recent legal trend toward reigning in the power and scope of patents. The course will also examine other legal aspects of entrepreneurship that every entrepreneur should understand, from start-up to IPO, to make good business decisions and drive shareholder value. These issues include (1) restrictive employment agreements and the art of leaving your current employer to start a new business, (2) the different forms of business organizations and ownership structures, (3) securities and funding a venture, (4) entering contracts, (5) product liability, (6) advertising, consumer privacy and data breaches, and (7) human resources issues including hiring and retaining the best staff. Letter grade. (Offered every year.) 3 credits