Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs from Coursera

For aspiring and active entrepreneurs, this course focuses on the opportunities and challenges of intellectual property. Intellectual property is a commonly discussed, often misunderstand, element of entrepreneurship and law. Knowing how to create and manage patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets is a valuable skill for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Regardless of size and industry, a business’s intellectual property is often more valuable than its physical assets. Companies invest tremendous resources in developing innovative new products and services. Intellectual property law discourages competitors from immediately profiting from another’s invention, and provides incentives for continued innovation.

"Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs" is one of three courses in the "Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship Specialization" by Coursera and the University of Maryland. This specialization explores the critical legal and business issues entrepreneurs face as they build and launch a new venture. Learners examine real-world scenarios and address legal and business issues from ideation to all of the important junctures along the path to success. Significant attention is placed on new venture formation, intellectual property management, and contracts and financing arrangements.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs

Get acquainted with the learning experience and course format, meet the faculty, and connect with classmates from across the globe.

Patents

Next Steps

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores creation, management, and legal complications of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets

Instructors are experts in business, law, and copyright

Taught by the University of Maryland, a leader in entrepreneurship

Covers the business and legal issues faced by entrepreneurs in the early stages of a venture

Requires students to examine real-world scenarios and address the legal issues that arise from starting and growing a new business

Taught as part of a specialization, which requires additional courses to complete

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs with these activities:

Review the Textbook: Intellectual Property Law: Cases and Materials

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Reinforce understanding of intellectual property law by reviewing a comprehensive and authoritative textbook.

View Governing Digitally Integrated Genetic... on Amazon

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Read and analyze key chapters related to the course topics.
Summarize and outline the main concepts and legal doctrines.
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises and review questions.

Review Legal Fundamentals

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Brush up on fundamental legal concepts to enhance understanding of intellectual property law.

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Review basic legal principles and terminology.
Explore foundational concepts in contract law and tort law.
Examine the structure and function of the legal system.

Practice Questions

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Complete practice questions from the course material to reinforce understanding of IP concepts.

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Identify areas for improvement
Practice questions related to those areas
Review correct answers and explanations

Ten other activities

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Develop an Intellectual Property Portfolio

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Create a comprehensive portfolio of intellectual property to solidify understanding of its creation and management.

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Identify potential intellectual property in your business or idea.
Research different types of intellectual property and their protection mechanisms.
Draft and file applications for patents, trademarks, or copyrights.
Monitor and maintain your intellectual property portfolio.

Patent Discussion Group

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Engage in discussions on patent law and strategies with peers to gain diverse perspectives and enhance understanding.

Browse courses on Patents

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Prepare by reviewing course material on patents
Attend the discussion group
Actively participate in discussions
Share insights and ask questions

IP Mentorship

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Share IP knowledge and experience by mentoring other students, providing guidance and support in understanding course concepts.

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Identify students seeking mentorship
Schedule regular mentoring sessions
Provide guidance on course material
Share insights and practical advice
Encourage and motivate mentees

Attend a Legal Industry Conference

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Engage with experts and peers at industry events to gain practical insights and expand professional network.

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Research and identify relevant legal industry conferences.
Register and attend the conference.
Network with speakers, attendees, and exhibitors.
Attend presentations and workshops on intellectual property law.

IP Management Plan

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Develop a comprehensive plan for managing IP assets, including patenting strategies and copyright protection measures.

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Research IP best practices
Identify and prioritize IP assets
Develop patenting strategies
Outline copyright protection measures
Create a draft IP management plan

Produce an Explanatory Video on Intellectual Property Rights

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Create a visually engaging video to explain complex concepts of intellectual property rights, enhancing comprehension.

Browse courses on Intellectual Property Rights

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Research and gather information on intellectual property rights.
Develop a clear and concise script for the video.
Use visuals, animations, and examples to illustrate the concepts.
Edit and finalize the video.

Pro Bono IP Assistance

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Provide pro bono IP assistance to non-profit organizations or individuals, applying IP knowledge to real-world scenarios.

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Identify pro bono IP opportunities
Review project briefs
Conduct IP research and analysis
Provide legal guidance on IP matters
Reflect on experiences and share learnings

Contribute to Open Source IP Project

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Gain practical experience by working on an open source IP-related project, contributing to the community and expanding understanding.

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Identify open source IP projects
Review project documentation
Contribute code or documentation
Collaborate with project maintainers
Share learnings with the course community

Participate in an Intellectual Property Law Workshop

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Engage in hands-on learning through workshops to deepen understanding of specific aspects of intellectual property law.

Browse courses on Intellectual Property Law

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Identify workshops offered by law schools, bar associations, or legal organizations.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions and exercises.
Network with other participants and workshop leaders.

Organize and Review Course Materials

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Review and synthesize course materials to enhance comprehension and retention.

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Gather and organize notes, assignments, and presentations.
Create summaries and mind maps to highlight key concepts.
Review and reinforce understanding through regular spaced repetition.

Career center

Learners who complete Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

IP Strategist

IP Strategists help businesses develop and implement strategies for protecting and exploiting their intellectual property. This requires a strong understanding of intellectual property law as well as business strategy. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs would enable individuals in or wishing to pursue a career as an IP Strategist to gain an understanding of how IP may be deployed to meet business goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for IP Strategist

IP Consultant

IP Consultants help businesses with all aspects of intellectual property management. They may work on patent and trademark issues, as well as with the development and implementation of IP strategy. This course could be of particular use to those wishing to become an IP Consultant, especially for those who come from a background other than law. It might also be helpful to those who wish to strengthen their knowledge of IP more generally.

See salaries and explore the career path for IP Consultant

IP Licensing Manager

IP Licensing Managers are responsible for negotiating and managing licensing agreements for intellectual property. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may help develop a foundation in IP for those seeking this role, as well as help them understand the various ways IP can be licensed, depending on the IP involved.

See salaries and explore the career path for IP Licensing Manager

Trademark Administrator

Trademark Administrators are responsible for helping to administer and protect trademarks. Knowing how to manage trademarks would be valuable, especially for those who wish to work with clients for whom trademark protection is of major importance for their business. This course stands to help further this knowledge by providing an overview of trademarks among other aspects of IP management.

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Patent Litigation Attorney

Patent Litigation Attorneys focus on representing clients in patent infringement lawsuits. They must have a strong understanding of intellectual property law, especially with regards to patents. And since patent law is a particular topic for this course, it may be of interest to those who wish to pursue this career and develop a foundation in this area.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patent Litigation Attorney

IP Lawyer

IP Lawyers specialize in intellectual property law. They represent clients with issues related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Given that its curriculum covers patents, trademarks, and copyright, Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be a useful overview for those with a background in law who wish to explore IP in more detail, particularly those who wish to become IP Lawyers.

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Copyright Specialists are responsible for helping to manage and protect copyrights. They need to be familiar with how copyright works so they can advise clients on copyright matters. Given that copyright is part of the curriculum for this course, Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs would help those who wish to work with copyright issues, particularly on behalf of clients.

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Patent Attorney

Patent Attorneys are experts in intellectual property law that focuses on patents. They help clients protect their inventions by drafting and filing patent applications. Given this course's specific mention of patents, Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be of some use to aspiring Patent Attorneys who may or may not come from a background in law.

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Trademark Attorney

Trademark Attorneys help clients protect their trademarks. They may also work on related matters such as copyright and trade secret law. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be of interest to those wishing to pursue this career, especially those coming from a background other than law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Trademark Attorney

IP Researcher

IP Researchers conduct research on intellectual property issues. They may work on patent, trademark, copyright, or other IP-related matters. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be helpful for those wishing to perform research in IP, where this overview course could build a foundation.

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IP Paralegal

IP Paralegals assist attorneys with intellectual property matters. They may work on patent, trademark, copyright, or other IP-related matters. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be of particular use to individuals with a background in law, or those who work closely with IP attorneys and wish to enhance their knowledge.

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IP Auditor

IP Auditors review a company's intellectual property portfolio and provide advice on how to improve its IP strategy. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be of use to those looking to understand how to manage IP from an auditor's perspective, where the course could help build a foundation for this pursuit.

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IP Librarian

IP Librarians manage and organize intellectual property collections. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be useful to those who wish to pursue a career as an IP Librarian, as an introduction to IP management.

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IP Journalist

IP Journalists write about intellectual property issues for news outlets and other publications. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs may be of some use to aspiring IP Journalists, helping them develop a foundation of knowledge in this area.

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IP Educator

IP Educators teach intellectual property law and related subjects at universities and other educational institutions. Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs could be of use to those who wish to teach about IP, though an advanced degree is more typical.

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