A standing-room-only crowd of aspiring inventors and innovators gained valuable insight on how to protect the rights to their one-of-a-kind inventions, designs, and processes during a presentation by Anton Hopen, a U.S. registered patent attorney and managing partner at the Law Office of Smith & Hopen.
The Jan. 24 event at Florida Polytechnic University focused on the critical role of patents in academic research, drawing about 200 students, faculty and staff.
“Every patent granted is evidence of a problem solved and a boundary pushed,” said Hopen, who is Florida Poly’s outside patent counsel. “It is legal recognition of a tangible benefit that propels humanity forward.”
David Fugett, the University’s vice president and general counsel, said students often create innovations and either don’t consider pursuing a patent or don’t know how to do it.
A newly established Department of Patents and Transfer Technology will serve as a resource to assist the Florida Poly community in navigating the patent process.
“When something gets patented, you will be attached as an inventor to that invention until the end of time,” Fugett said. “It shows that not only are you a problem solver, you thought of such a unique way to solve a problem that no one else in the world has thought of it.”
The University’s singular STEM focus gives it a significant patent advantage over many other institutions, Hopen said.
“Florida Poly is in a most unique position to be a driver of not just solving problems, but potential financial windfall,” he said, noting that a patent grants a 20-year monopoly over the protected invention.
Hopen described the response to his presentation to Florida Poly students and employees as enthusiastic and highly interactive.
“I’ve spoken at universities now for close to 20 years and this was one of the most fun and engaging talks I’ve had,” Hopen said. “To have nearly 200 students zoned in and really engaged in wanting to see the potential is really exciting.
“I think this might be the beginning of something big for Florida Poly.”
For more information about patents at Florida Poly, contact the Department of Patents and Transfer Technology.
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
