Session 1: Patent Prosecution and Licensing Basics
BCLT-Oregon Start-Up Series
BCLT Life Sciences Law & Policy Center
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. | B-CLE
1.50 General CLE Credit Available
Series Info | Resources | Speaker Bios & Contact Info
Strong intellectual property can be the backbone of business success—but only if you know how to protect and leverage it. In this practical session, Kathryn Grey, PhD and Alex Yu of Fish & Richardson will walk you through the essentials of patents, ownership, and licensing strategies that every company should master. From understanding the anatomy of a patent to navigating freedom-to-operate issues and structuring licensing agreements, this program offers real-world guidance for innovators, founders, and legal teams alike.
Whether you’re growing a startup or managing a mature portfolio, this session will help you align your IP strategy with your business strategy.
In this program, you’ll learn how to:
- Recognize the value of IP as both a shield and a business asset
- Understand patent basics, including subject matter, timelines, and claims
- Build effective patent filing and protection strategies across jurisdictions
- Navigate “freedom to operate” analyses and avoid infringement pitfalls
- Clarify inventorship, ownership, and assignment in employee and third-party collaborations
- Structure licensing agreements to align with business goals and minimize risk
Speaker(s):
Kathryn Grey, Fish & Richardson
Alex Yu, Fish & Richardson
Program Series:
Are you a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, or investor thinking about launching or working with a start-up company? Do you have questions about patents and trade secrets, regulatory requirements, consulting agreements, privacy considerations, and/or IP licensing? The Berkeley Center for Law & Technology and the University of Oregon School of Law have partnered on a new Start-Up Signature Series of virtual legal education programs, designed specifically for start-up companies and their investors. The Start-Up Signature Series will give you the education you need to successfully push your start-up forward!
All programs are free to access.