Basics of Obtaining a Patent

So, you've submitted your invention disclosure to the MIT TLO, spoken with patent counsel, reviewed the application, it's being examined by the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) and you're waiting. Now what? This session will review the process that your application will undergo at the PTO. We will cover, among other topics, some history, the Examiner’s role, prior art rejections, and the claims. We hope you will come away from this session with an understanding of how you can best contribute to the success of your patent application.

Speaker: 

Paul Sorkin joined the MIT Technology Licensing Office as an IP Portfolio Associate in June of 2022. Prior to MIT, Paul was a Patent Attorney at a number of firms in the Boston area as well as an In-House IP Counsel at a large computer systems company. Paul worked as a test engineer, project engineer and manufacturing engineer at a number of tech companies prior to attending law school. He has experience capturing and protecting innovations by strategic use of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret measures in law firm and in-house settings. Paul holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. He is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.