News From the Innovation Law Center

Innovation Law Center

The ILC is the designated NYS Science & Technology Law Center. It is funded by the Empire State Development Corp. to provide information and research on legal issues relevant to the technology commercialization process. Research is available to early-stage companies, research centers, economic development agencies, technology transfer offices and researchers throughout New York State.  Research on the intellectual property, competitive and market landscapes relevant to a new technology are completed by law and business students under supervision of faculty. If you are interested in having the ILC complete research, please submit a request here. 

Back to Class:

Fall 2024 classes have kicked off at the Syracuse University College of Law, welcoming a new cohort of law students into the Innovation Law Center (ILC). These students will explore intellectual property, marketing, and regulatory issues related to innovative technologies. Their research will be conducted as a part of the LAW 815 Innovation Law Practicum course, as well as NYSTAR- funded independent student research.

IP / Regulatory Law Watch

Court Rules That Scraping of Public Data by Competitor Constitutes Trade Secret Misappropriation

In a significant ruling, the Eleventh Circuit addressed the contentious issue of trade secret misappropriation in the case of Compulife Software, Inc. v. Newman. The court affirmed that while individual quotes from Compulife’s publicly accessible website are not trade secrets, the extensive scraping of their database by competitors constituted misappropriation. This decision highlights the legal complexities surrounding web scraping practices, emphasizing that the sheer volume of data acquired can transform what is publicly available into a protectable trade secret. As the landscape of data scraping continues to evolve, this ruling serves as a crucial reminder for businesses about the potential legal implications of their data acquisition methods. Read on here for a detailed analysis of the case and its implications for the future of web scraping.

Final Director Review Rules

The story found here details the final rule package issued by the USPTO to implement the Director Review process in AIA trial proceedings. The final rules expand Director Review to include derivation proceedings and decisions beyond just institution and Final Written Decisions, such as termination decisions. The rules also allow the Director to initiate reviews, outline the request process, clarify the impact on ongoing proceedings, specify appeal timelines to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and permit delegation of review authority.

Around NY State

Nearly $30M in federal funds allocated for high-tech R&D efforts in upstate NY  

The Department of Defense has awarded over $27 million to the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) in New York to advance semiconductor research, development, and workforce training at local universities. This funding, part of the $2 billion CHIPS for America Defense Fund, supports four projects focused on quantum technologies. One project led by the Rochester Institute of Technology will receive nearly $4 million for a Heterogeneous Quantum Networking initiative, while another, involving RIT and Toptica Photonics Inc., will get $8.6 million to develop a 300mm foundry fabrication platform. Read more about the grant here.

Upcoming Events

Intellectual property basics and helpful resources

• What: An opportunity to learn from the USPTO’s experts about the basics of intellectual property.
• Where: Virtual
• When: October 3, 2024, 12pm-1:30pm

Name Image and Likeness for Student Athletes

• What: An overview of how to offer your name, image, or likeness as a product for profit.
• Where: Virtual
• When: October 10, 2024 9:30am- 5pm PT

The Path to a Patent, Part II: Drafting provisional patent applications

• What: UPSTO experts discuss key differences between non-provisional and provisional patent applications, filing requirements and fees and the different ways to file a patent application.
• Where: Virtual
• When: October 10, 2024, 2pm- 3:30pm

New York State Innovation Summit

• What: A showcase of NYS companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technologies and new advancements in production capabilities.
• Where: The Oncenter 800 S State St, Syracuse, NY 13202
• When: October 28-29, 2024

GENIUS NY Pitch Finals

• What: Five new startups that have developed drone related technologies will be pitching their technologies for a $1,000,000 grand prize.
• Where: Marriot Syracuse Downtown 100 East Onondaga street Syracuse, NY 13202
• When: October 28, 2024

Grow-NY Networking Night

• What: Networking event with various incubators, economic development programs, and the Grow-NY team.
• Where: Salt City Coffee and Bar, Syracuse
• When: October 15, 2024

LifeSciencesNY Annual Conference – Together ’24

• What: Networking event with the audience of businesses, academic, and government leaders.
• Where: Harro East Ballroom, Rochester
• When: November 13th & 14th 

 
Do you have an event or schedule you would like to advertise? Contact Karen Scullion at nysstlc@syr.edu to share it in our next monthly newsletter. 

Funding Opportunities

From early-stage non-dilutive funding to tax benefits and investment funds, NYS has several funding resources for inventors and entrepreneurs. Check out the links below for more information: 

• USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program
  • The USPTO has a directory for participating law schools throughout the U.S.
• VLA Patent Pro Bono Program
  • Volunteer Lawyers of the Arts helps inventors in the NYC area with drafting patent applications.
• Empire State Development
  • ESD offers several resources, including: Start-UP NY, the Innovate NY Fund, NY Ventures, and the Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). 
• FuzeHub
  • This company points to a collection of resources for manufacturing and technology start-ups.
• 43North
  • 43North annually invests in startup companies located in Buffalo, NY.
• Pursuit Lending
• • Pursuit provides loans and information for small business owners in NY.
• America’s Seed Fund
  • The National Science Foundation (NSF) invests in early-stage projects with this fund.
• NYS Investment Entities, Including:
  • Cayuga Venture Fund 
  • Excell Partners 
  • ff Venture Capital 
  • Golden Seeds 
  • Partnership Fund for NYC 
  • SCP Incubators / Z80 Labs 
  • Stonehenge Capital  

Questions or Suggestions: Contact Innovation Review Editor Patrick Cramer at nysstlc@syr.edu