Fundamental Patent Tools for Aerospace Engineering

Patents are an exchange between the owner of an idea, and the government.  The owner of the idea shares his/her know-how on the invention, and the government grants a monopoly of limited term in exchange.  Patents are a powerful tool to tap into this know-how, and unfortunately, few engineers know how to access this valuable source of information.  Hence, the objective of this course is to empower engineers to search and locate existing patents, and to understand the scope of protection afforded to patentees, to gain knowledge in cutting-edge aeronautics technologies, as well as competitive intelligence on competitor developments.

Date: October 16-17, 2013 (offered in French)
Time: 9am – 5pm
Duration: 2 days (14 hours)
Location: 688 Sherbrooke Street West
Fee: $1,095 CAD plus applicable taxes

Workshop Description

This workshop will introduce aerospace engineers and technical staff to the fundamental patent tools which will enable them to benefit from the cutting edge data found in patent databases. The workshop will explore what major aeronautic corporations are patenting, as well as the scope and the limits of these patents.

Objectives

At the end of this workshop the participants will be able to search and locate existing patents, understand the criteria for obtaining a patent, as well as the scope of protection afforded to patentees.

Topics Covered

• Introduction to patents and history of patents in aeronautics
• How to read a patent
• How to search patent databases
• Criteria for obtaining a patent: novelty and non-obviousness
• Patent litigation in aeronautics
• Claim drafting workshop
• Examination process for patent grant

Who Should Attend

Engineers and technical personnel working in the aerospace industry.

Lecturers

Julien Lacheré, M. Eng., Computer Engineering, École Polytechnique de l’Université de Nantes

Senior Patent Agent, Bombardier Aerospace
 
Julien Lacheré, a professional engineer and a patent agent, is in charge of the patent filing strategy of Bombardier Aerospace. His responsibilities include coordinating the various stakeholders of Bombardier Aerospace to define and execute on the patent filing strategy and operating processes to capture, evaluate and protect inventions arising from new product developments and advanced research activities. He also supervises the preparation, filing and prosecution of utility and design patent applications and participates to patentability and non-infringement analyses. Mr. Lacheré started his career as a trainee patent engineer at Airbus Operations SAS, in Toulouse, France before moving to Canada where he joined the Intellectual Property group of a top-tier Canadian law firm. Mr. Lacheré is registered to practice directly before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
 
Todd Bailey, LLB, B.Sc., Mechanical engineering

Associate Intellectual Property Counsel, Pratt & Whitney Canada
 
Todd Bailey is Associate Intellectual Property Counsel for Pratt & Whitney Canada, based at the company's head office in Longueuil, Quebec. Pratt & Whitney Canada, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of gas turbine engines for aerospace applications, powering business and regional aircraft and helicopters. Todd joined Pratt & Whitney Canada in 2001, moving in-house from a Toronto law firm specializing in intellectual property law. Todd's practice focuses on providing legal and business advice on many areas of intellectual property law related to his client’s high technology aerospace business.  In addition to being a registered Canadian patent agent and trade-mark agent, and a registered US patent agent, Todd received an LLB from Queen’s in 1995, was called to the Ontario Bar in 1997, and is registered to practice by the Barreau du Québec as a corporate counsel.  He obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1992. Todd is a member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Intellectual Property Owners Association.

Marie-Claude Gagnon, M.Eng., Aerospace Engineering, École Polytechnique

Patent Agent, Norton Rose Canada

Marie-Claude Gagnon is a mechanical and aerospace engineer practicing in the area of intellectual property since 2003. She drafts and prosecutes patent and industrial design applications in Canada, the United States and abroad. Ms. Gagnon has participated in patent clearance projects on a variety of products. She also prepares opinions on patentability, infringement, patent validity and freedom to manufacture, and has experience in providing technical support for patent litigation matters. Ms. Gagnon’s technical expertise relates to mechanical systems and devices of all kinds, including in the aerospace environment, in the area of sports equipment, and in the field of medical devices. She is registered to practice directly before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

James Reid, B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering, McGill University

Partner, Patent Agent, Norton Rose Canada

Mr. Reid has a very active practice involving Canadian industrial design and US design patent matters, which includes the preparation, filing and prosecution of design applications, as well as conducting design-around analysis and opinion work relating to registered designs. Mr. Reid’s technical expertise covers mechanical technology of all types, with an emphasis on the aerospace, biomechanical and medical device fields, more particularly relating to gas turbine engines, orthopedic implants and related computer assisted surgery systems.

Pierre Nguyen, B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering, McGill

Partner, Patent Agent, Norton Rose Canada

Pierre Nguyen’s practice focuses on all aspects of management of patent and industrial design portfolios, including drafting and prosecuting patent applications. He also assists with developing international filing strategies for patent applications on behalf of several Quebec businesses, as well as with drafting patentability and infringement opinions. Mr. Nguyen’s mechanical engineering background allows him to effectively represent Quebec businesses and universities with activities in such industries as bio-medical engineering, robotics, automated processes, and plastics and metals moulding.

Sébastien Clark, B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique

Partner, Patent Agent, Norton Rose Canada

Sébastien Clark, a professional engineer, drafts and prosecutes US original patent applications and manages the intellectual property portfolios of large corporations. He also drafts infringement, freedom-to-operate and patentability opinions. Mr. Clark is a highly valued scientific advisor in litigation matters due to his extensive expertise in thermodynamics, hydraulics and aeronautics. Mr. Clark’s technical expertise covers mechanical systems and devices of all types. He has particular expertise in the aerospace field.