Wayne Law Patent Clinic Part Of World Intellectual Property Day
DETROIT -- When Alyssa Reiter was 9 years old, she had a great idea. She put her hamster in a clear ball, and trained it to knock over bowling pins using a specialized game board she designed. The hamster was rewarded with a treat.
Knowing others might want to steal her idea and perhaps market it themselves, she set out to protect her invention.
This year, at age 12, Reiter has been rewarded with a patent, and now controls the intellectual property she invented.
On April 26, Reiter and her hamster will be among the featured presenters during the Detroit celebration of World Intellectual Property Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the TechShop Detroit, 800 Republic Drive, Allen Park.
Participants in Wayne State University Law School's Patent Procurement Law Clinic, just one aspect of the Program for Entrepreneurship and Business Law at Wayne Law, also will be on hand to share information about the law school's free IP services.
"Information available at the WSU Patent Procurement Law Clinic table will include general information regarding patent process and costs, current U.S. Patent and Trademark Office fee schedules, and patent clinic applications," said Professor Thomas Helmholdt, a patent attorney who teaches the Wayne Law clinic. "Everyone is welcome to stop by our table to say hello, and we look forward to a fun-filled day of activities at the World IP Day event. No one does it better than Detroit!"
World IP Day, now in its 13th year, came about through a collaboration between the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is part of the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to promote and secure creative ideas, including music, art, trademarks, writings and inventions -- and yes, even a hamster bowling game. Events also will be held in Washington, D. C.; Alexandria, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; New York; Denver; Dallas and Silicon Valley.
The theme of the April 26 event is Creativity – the Next Generation. The day begins at 9 a.m. with a performance by the Allen Park High School Jazz Band, followed by a brief video on intellectual property, speakers and a panel discussion during which the public is welcome to ask questions. From noon to 1 p.m., an exhibition will take place featuring creative companies and organizations from the Detroit area, including Wayne State University Law School. Food and beverages will be served.
Speakers will include Will Brick, manager of the TechShop Detroit, a "Garden of Eden for tool geeks everywhere"; Vincent Carducci, dean of undergraduate studies at the College for Creative Studies, Detroit; Matthew Clayson, director of the Detroit Creative Corridor Center; Bill Coughlin, president and CEO of Ford Global Technologies; Robin Evans, regional manager of the Elijah J. McCoy U.S. Patent and Trademark Office satellite facility in Detroit; Anthony Reale, inventor, designer and entrepreneur; Alyssa Reiter, a sixth-grader at Detroit Country Day School and inventor of Hamster Bowling; and Michael Stewart, patent attorney and founding member of law firm Rader Fishman and Grauer.
The event is free and open to the public. RSVP to WorldIPDay@raderfishman.com.
