Introduction to Intellectual Property
(LAW)
This course will explore how legal tools may be used in the construction and successful operation of your company to deliver the next great product to market. Topics covered in the class include: issues with business formation, intellectual property, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, and other corporate legal issues particularly impacting startups.
Spring 2019 Syllabus
Class # |
Materials |
Class Topic |
1 |
I. Basics and Forming a Business A. Business Entities 1. Sole Proprietorship 2. Partnership 3. Corporation 4. LLC CLASS 1 NOTES |
|
2 |
Articles of Incorporation Bylaws Illinois Business Startup Guide Illinois Corporate Name Search USPTO Trademark Search Domain Name Registrar (Go Daddy) New Generic Top Level Domains Illinois LLC Guide Illinois LLC Articles of Organization Sample LLC Operating Agreement Illinois Corporation Guide Illinois Corporate Articles of Incorporation Sample Corporate Bylaws Sample General Partnership Agreement Entrepreneur Web Sites More Entrepreneur Websites FEIN Number Application World Business Chicago Chicago Business Education Classes HowToStartAnLLC.org |
B. The practicalities of forming your corporation 1. Choosing a corporate name 2. How a state corporation registry works 3. Bylaws and Operating Agreements Examples and Important Clauses CLASS 2 NOTES |
3 |
C. Ownership agreements 1. Get it in writing 2. Founders ownership agreements 3. Valuation and dilution – taking the long view 4. Restrictions on transfer of stock 5. Negotiation Exercise CLASS 3 NOTES |
|
4 |
How Funding Works Chart Bootstrap Funding CrowdFunding Kickstarter Actual Startup Pitch Decks Angel Investor Angel List Hyde Park Angels Angel Capital Association Accredited Investor SEC Accredited Investor Bulletin Illinois Angel Investment Credit Startup Growth Rate YCombinator Accelerator Listing Startup Funding Explained SBA Website Venture Capital VC Listing Negotiating with VCs Serra Ventures IllinoisVentures SBA Loans Convertible Debt 1 Convertible Debt 2 Convertible Debt 3 Convertible Debt 4 Gross Income Tax Deduction Stock Option 83(b) Election Corporate Valuation Typical Valuation Multiples Top Cities for Venture Investing |
D. Funding arrangements 1. How startups get money 2. Bootstrap 3. Angel 4. Bank loan 5. SBA 6. Grants 7. VCs 8. Tax implications 9. Stock Options CLASS 4 NOTES Questions Before Exam EXAM #1 - On Class 1-4 materials |
5 |
II. Contracts A. Introduction to Contracts 1. What is a Contract 2. Interpretation and Enforcement of Contracts 3. Get It In Writing CLASS 5 NOTES |
|
6 |
B. Contract Formation 1. Offer, Acceptance, and Consideration, etc. 2. The negotiation process 3. Practical contract terms and enforcement considerations 4. “Reasonably promptly”, “best efforts” CLASS 6 NOTES |
|
7 |
C. Specific Contracts and terms 1. Performance 2. Modification of Agreement 3. Damages 4. Warranties 5. Indemnification 6. Non-Disclosure Agreements 7. Non-Competes CLASS 7 NOTES |
|
8 |
D. Specific Contracts and terms 1. Term Sheets 2. Terms and Conditions on Websites 3. Lease Agreements CLASS 8 NOTES |
|
9 |
E. Specific Contracts and terms 1. IP Assignments 2. Joint Venture Agreements CLASS 9 NOTES Questions Before Exam EXAM #2 – On Class 5-9 materials |
|
10 |
III. Intellectual Property (IP) A. Into to IP 1. Patents 2. Copyrights 3. Trademarks 4. Trade Secrets CLASS 10 NOTES Lightspeed Presentation |
|
11 |
Review Exam #2 Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Patent Application Patenting Process US Pat. No. 7,753,421 US Pat. No. 7,017,598 US Pat. App. Pub No. US 2004/0221883 US Pat. No. 5,871,783 US Pat. No. 6,210,728 Statutory Subject Matter Bilski Alice v. CLS Barich Bilski Paper Novelty Non-Obviousness Patent Do's and D'oh! Sufficiency Of Disclosure |
A. Patents 1. The Patenting Process 2. Review of Sample Patents 3. Recognizing Patentable Subject Matter 4. Novelty 5. Non-Obviousness 6. 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112 CLASS 11 NOTES |
12 |
A. Patents 7. Claim Types 8. Novelty vs. Infringement Analysis 9. Design Patents 10. Startup Patent Issues CLASS 12 NOTES |
|
13 |
B. Trademarks 1. What can be trademarked 2. TM v. ® 3. The Trademark Process 4. Using Trademarks as Business Tools CLASS 13 NOTES |
|
14 |
IV. Additional Topics A. Practical Advice For Startups CLASS 14 NOTES Questions Before Exam EXAM #3 – On Class 10-13 materials |