Patents are critically important in protecting intellectual property and companies are investing fortunes in them to safeguard their inventions. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2012 in the smartphone industry alone, over $20 billion was spent on patent purchases and litigation. Without the protection afforded by patent coverage, technological innovation would dry up.

In this class, you will learn how patents protect your intellectual property and what rights they confer, what to expect in the patent application process, how to read and interpret patent documents, and why international patents matter. Learn how you can work with the UCSD Technology Transfer Office to manage and protect your inventions. Finally, learn about free web search engines you can use to discover if your invention has already been patented. Even if you don't have an invention on the drawing board, this class will give you valuable insight into how patents work.

Intended for: UCSD students who would like to learn about the patenting process and how to search for patents on the web.