IP Pitfall Hangout - Startups & Intellectual Property

Come hang out with some Tech Labers and the IP team from Brouse McDowell for an open chat about anything and everything related to IP/Copyright/Open Source topics. Learn how to best integrate open source code into your project, how to navigate murky IP waters, and how best to protect what you've worked on.

Bring your IP/Copyright/Open Source questions! This will be an open chat and essentially free time with some really experienced attorneys. Two were mentors for SparkAK and one was a judge and we got great feedback about all of them.

Introducing Brouse's IP team:

Heather M. Barnes
Heather Barnes leads Brouse McDowell's intellectual property group. As a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and with fifteen years of intellectual property law experience, she assists her clients with identifying their business goals and how to best utilize patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets to protect their innovation in the United States and in foreign countries. Possessing a degree in mechanical engineering equips her to handle a broad variety of technologies including pumps, portable heaters, toys, tires, tire presses, exercise equipment, and medical devices. Heather works with her clients as an integral part of their team for product launches. Heather assists companies of varying size ranging from start-ups to those that are publicly traded.

Michael G. Craig
Michael is an associate in the Intellectual Property Group at Brouse McDowell. He has seven years of experience as a licensed Patent Attorney, and he has a degree in biology and a minor in computer science. He has drafted well over 200 patents for large and small technology companies in all areas of the computer arts, including software, hardware, networking, communications, web-based development, cloud computing, memory, storage, and more; as well as in medical devices, imaging, and mechanical and electro-mechanical arts. Michael also performs opinion work relating to patents, trademarks and copyrights, counsels clients on patentability, infringement, validity and right-to-use issues, and has successfully helped clients develop and protect their intellectual property.

Jennifer L. Hanzlicek
Jennifer concentrates her legal practice in the area of intellectual property, helping individuals and companies bring their inventions to market through drafting and prosecuting patent and trademark applications. Jennifer also has experience in licensing agreements, nondisclosure agreements, copyright registrations, and patent and trademark availability opinions. Additionally, Jennifer assists clients in developing their intellectual property strategies.

Prior to working as an Attorney, Jennifer worked as a chemist for 16 years in the environmental, oil, adhesives and coating fields. She spent nearly 13 years at a major international commercial and retail coatings manufacturer where she developed new products and technologies. She has also worked in a BSL-2 microbiology laboratory. Jennifer has a B.S. in Combined Science (chemistry and biology), M.S. in Polymer Science, M.B.A. from Cleveland State University, and J.D. from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Akron Bar Association, and the Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association where she serves as chair of the Patent Office Practice and Patent Law committee.

Barry A. Winkler
Barry Winkler maintains an intellectual property practice, including domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, copyright registration, patent and trademark availability opinions, patent infringement opinions, product clearance opinions, assignments, and license agreements.
Barry has technical expertise in the mechanical and electro-mechanical arts. Barry frequently advises clients regarding protection of their intellectual property through patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Barry’s experience includes the management and prosecution of patents in the United States and in several foreign countries. Barry has drafted and prosecuted patents for a major automobile manufacturer, a major tire manufacturer, a governmental agency, various smaller manufacturers, and independent inventors. Barry has a background as a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry and software development and testing in the financial industry.