North Carolina A&T State University

NSF Engineering Research Center + Bioengineering Joint Seminar Series

General Elements of Intellectual Property and the Copyright Law

by

Edward W. Rilee, J.D.

MacCord & Mason PLLC

Greensboro and Wilmington, NC

11 AM – 11:50 AM – Friday, April 25, 2014

McNair Hall Auditorium – College of Engineering

Abstract:

Intellectual Property is a small but important part of the law that each of us has contact with on a daily basis.   It is not a single body of laws but has several distinct areas that only sometimes overlap.  The key areas are as follows:

Copyright - original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression

Trademark - distinctive source identifier

Utility Patent - useful & functional idea

Design Patent - ornamental design

Trade Secret - valuable and secret business information

About the Speaker:

Mr. Rilee is Patent Attorney and Senior Partner at MacCord & Mason PLLC. He earned his BS in Ceramic Engineering and MS in Materials Engineering from Virginia Tech, and the JD from the University of Akron. His prior work experience includes IP legal work at Burlington Industries and at McDermott Inc., and engineering assignments at Ford and at Babcock & Wilcox. He is admitted to the Practice of Law in multiple jurisdictions, including, of course, the State of NC and the USPTO.