The Chair’s Comments -- A Word from Cynthia B. Rothschild
Article Date: Thursday, November 04, 2010
The Intellectual Property Law Section of the N.C. Bar Association is looking forward to another year of programs for attorneys and law students in this practice area. The IP Section exists to provide its members with programs that are educational and relevant to the practice of IP attorneys in North Carolina. Additionally, the IP Section sponsors events that are designed to facilitate networking among section members.
IP Section committees provide forums for discussion of issues relevant to various aspects of IP law. Section committees include the Biotech & Chemical Patent Committee with co-chairs Rob Schwartzman and Allyn Rhodes; the Electrical Engineering and Computer Software Committee with co-chairs Timothy Wall and Brian Drozd; the Licensing Committee with chair Patricia Bornes; the Patent Law Committee with chair Greg Grissett; and the Trademark/CopyrightTrade Secret Committee with co-Chairs Eileen Gillis and Neal Wolgin. Most committees will meet several times over the course of the year, with lectures and/or round-table discussions relating to topics of interest. IP Section members will receive an e-mail notice of all committee events. Details about these various committees, along with e-mail addresses for the committee chairs, can be found at the section’s web page at http://intellectualpropertylaw.ncbar.org .
The IP Section also provides opportunities to network with your colleagues. For example, this year’s tri-city (Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Charlotte) networking luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2010. Details regarding the luncheon will be sent to section members by e-mail and will also be available at the section’s website. Additional opportunities for networking can be found that the NCBA Facebook and Twitter sites: http://www.facebook.com/NCBAorg ; http://twitter.com/NCBAorg ; and http://www.twitter.com/NCBA_CLE .
If you are not a member and are interested in joining the IP Section, or know of others who may be interested in joining, go to https://intellectualpropertylaw.ncbar.org/join-renew.aspx , or contact the Membership Committee co-chairs, Marjorie Benbow and Eric Mills. We hope to continue the significant progress made by the Outreach Committee formed last year, with co-chairs, Robert Crouse and Jon Pierce. This committee has been working to increase student participation in the section. If you are or know of a law student who may be interested in joining the IP Section, please go to https://intellectualpropertylaw.ncbar.org/join-renew.aspx , or contact one of the Outreach Committee co-chairs.
The IP Section Annual CLE is scheduled for March 25, 2011 at the Embassy Suites in Concord, N.C. CLE Committee co-chairs David Sigmon and Laura Kelley have begun planning the program. Updates on the CLE will be provided in future reports.
The IP Section maintains a strong commitment to pro bono activities. The section’s pro bono awards to the firm and individual having the most significant pro bono contribution are presented annually as part of the section’s business meeting at the annual CLE. Nominations for these awards can be submitted to the sections Pro Bono Committee, co-chaired by Darrell Fruth and Michael Boggs. Look out for a request for nominations early in 2011. Additionally, NC LEAP provides opportunities for attorneys to assist individuals in need of pro bono IP counseling; please visit the NC LEAP website at http://ncleap.ncbar.org , or contact Deborah Gerhardt, UNC Law School, if you are interested in participating in this program. Also, a reminder to mark your calendars for the 4ALL event to be held March 4, 2011 at various locations around the state. Updates on these programs will be included in future reports.
Finally, the section’s newsletter, IP Links, is published several times a year, and provides an excellent opportunity for attorneys in the section to publish articles on topics of interest. Please contact one of the Newsletter Committee co-chairs, Justin Nifong and Alton Absher, if you are interested in submitting an article.
Again, details about the section, section events, and section committees can be found at the section’s webpage at http://intellectualpropertylaw.ncbar.org . I thank members of the section and the N.C. Bar Association for the privilege of serving as your chair for this year, and I hope that each of you will have the opportunity to play an active role in IP section activities.
Views and opinions expressed in articles published herein are the authors' only and are not to be attributed to this newsletter, the section, or the NCBA unless expressly stated. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all citations and quotations.