Obtaining Business Patents & Trademarks Business Forum
Purchase tickets and sponsorship at the bottom of this page.
How to Protect Your Organization’s Intellectual Property
It’s important for inventors, entrepreneurs, and innovators to understand what kind of intellectual property (IP) they have in their portfolio and take steps to protect that IP, such as by filing a patent or registering a trademark. With everything you have to manage, this additional step can seem confusing and overwhelming. To help you navigate this, the SWCRC is hosting a conversation with members from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during which we’ll discuss the process of securing patents and trademarks registration to protect your business or nonprofit. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
About our speaker, Derris Banks:
Mr. Banks brings three decades of United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) experience as a Patent Examiner, Supervisory Patent Examiner, and Technology Center Director to his current position as Director of USPTO’s Midwest Elijah J. McCoy Regional Outreach Office. He joined the USPTO in June of 1994 in Technology Center (TC) 3700 examining semiconductor fabrication and abrasive tool manufacturing applications. He became a Supervisory Patent Examiner (SPE) in TC 3700 in December 2000 and managed various mechanical Art Units. In 2012, Mr. Banks became a Director of Technology Center 2600 managing various electrical technologies. In 2022, Mr. Banks served as a Chief Patent
Classification Official in Office of International Patent Cooperation (OPIC) responsible for all domestic and international classification-related matters for the USPTO.
Schools in Attendance
River Rouge High School (1 table) sponsored by Hegira Health, Inc.
River Rouge High School (1 table) sponsored by Public Service Credit Union
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The Legislative and Business Forum is an exciting series that features our elected and business leaders in the Southeastern Michigan region. Gain valuable insight from legendary entrepreneurs and successful community pillars to help your business thrive!
Interested in sponsoring the Forum Series, an individual Forum event or a high school table (during school months)? Contact Kate Currie | [email protected] or (734) 284-6000 x 28
Sponsorship Info
Advanced registration required. Monday, May 19
Location: The Prestige Banquet Hall | Allen Park
11:00 AM – Sponsor reception
11:30 AM – Program and lunch
$25 per person, including lunch
$40 Non-Member admission
$250.00 Table of 10
