A Week to Remember

Several events were targeted towards researchers and legal professionals. IP Summer School 2014 comprised of the Patent Licensing Academy, seminars on topics such as China IP and the Unitary Patent system, a multitude of case clinics and of a research seminar for PhD students from the Bayreuth University. Beyond key knowledge, the participants beneficiated from the largest networking opportunity for IP professionals existing in the Nordic countries.

The weeklong Patent Licensing Academy, chaired by Ilkka Rahnasto, VP and Deputy Chief Legal Officer for Nokia, explored the contemporary challenges surrounding patent portfolio management. A multitude of notorious international attorneys offered their advices and perspective on key issues.

Some highlights from in-house lawyers included Fumihiko Moriya, VP Senior General Manager of the IP Division of Sony Coropration, who discussed the key patent markets and their latest trends; Niklas Östman, Senior Licensing Director for Microsoft Corporation, who gave tips on negotiations around licensing agreements; and Ruud Peters, former Chief IP Officer for Philips, who discussed the elaboration and operating of a licensing program. Finally, litigation specialist Folke Johansson, Director of the Patent Department at Papula-Nevinpat, gave insight on prosecution strategies.

The event attracted forty legal practitioners operating mainly in Finland, comprised case studies, and formative workshops on IP portfolio management.

Impressive seminar on patents

The colossal seminar on Unitary Patents, attracting by itself more than 160 attendants, gave exceptional and exclusive insight from the original drafters of the legal text such as Kevin Mooney, Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the Rules of Procedure for the Unified Patent Court and partner at Simmons and Simmons LLP; and Alexander Ramsay, Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Unified Patent Court and Deputy Director of the Ministry of Justice of Sweden.

The seminar concentrated on the state of the implementation of the law, its next steps, the potential implications and difficulties that such a law might bring from a patent filing or patent litigation point of view, and the subsequent possible strategies by private entities. A panel of discussion ensued, opening dialogue with the audience.

The European academic sinophiles were also pleasantly surprised in the daylong seminar on Governance of IPRs in China and Europe. The event attracted prominent Chinese academics such as the honourable Professor Mingde Li from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and a panel of six Chinese professors from top tier Chinese universities.

Professor Nari Lee, from the Hanken School of Economics, chaired the first round table, on the Rule of Law and Governance of IPR in China. Professor Mingde Li chaired the second one, on Governance of IP and Markets for Creation. The last topic, chaired by Professor Niklas Bruun, director at the IPR University Center, concerned the Governance of Markets for Technology and Innovation through IP law.

Discussion with experts on China

A second event, which was open also to the summer school students, occurred the next day and gave students the chance to discuss IP in China, its Growth and Opportunities with Professor Mingde Li, the Chinese Panel, and other invited academicians such as Benjamin Liu from the John Marshall Law School, and Researcher He Kan, from the Hanken School of Economics.

Other events which also raised interest were the IP case clinics and the closed research seminar for the invited PhD students of the Bayreuth University. The case clinics dissected key cases in selected domains of IP. Key speakers included Professor Marcus Norrgård, from the University of Helsinki, and Katja Lindroos, from the University of Easten Finland.

Philippe Pépin

IP Summer School for Students: Not Just Any Regular Law Course

Simultaneously with the Summer School targeted for professionals, IPR University Center organized its first IP Summer School for Students, which was a free program directed to international students in different stages of their studies.

The aim of the course was to offer the students an opportunity to enhance their knowledge about IPRs, to offer new inspiration and tools on how to approach the various IPRs and to give a review of the various interpretations of those country by country. The course consisted of various lectures, company visits and seminars, some of which were organized jointly with those participating in the professional part of the summer school.

Lecturers were established professors from Finnish and international universities, and experienced attorneys with practical knowledge of the matter.

The application procedure for the course began in March and the final participants were chosen from several excellent applications. The chosen students came from 15 different countries and universities, and had different studying backgrounds, were from various fields, with different interests and career paths. Diversity was definitely a benefit, since it enabled interesting discussions and exchange of thoughts.

Subjects included a seminar on the Nordic view of IPRs, the management and enforcement of those in China and case clinics, which covered patent and trademark cases. The events did not take place only at the Hanken School of Business, the school was also hosted by the Startup Sauna, the Design Factory, the AddLab, as well as by the Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society Teosto.

The Hanken School of Economics included the course in its curriculum and students could gain 4 ECTS by participating in the daily seminars and fulfilling the required assignments. Since 1 ECTS usually equals to 25-30 hours of work, the week was quite intensive with several cases and essays to read during the afternoons and evenings. The courses, combined with the informal get-togethers, meant that the long light days of the Finnish summer became useful!

Feedback of the course was collected through the week and for us, the staff members, good feedback meant that the most important aim of the summer school was achieved: the first ever summer school was found to be beneficial, fun and recommendable by the students. We are looking forward to hosting IP Summer School 2015!

Maiju Virtanen

Socialising alongside IPR

One of the best aspects of IP Summer School was, of course, the people who took part in it. After the daily lectures and company visits, the student part of the Summer School consisted of lively evening events and socialising.

These adventures were not mandatory and not related to IPR as such. The students discovered the night life and landscapes of Helsinki while getting to know each other. In the progress, they were able to compare legislation and, for example, patentability requirements in different countries.

On the Sunday before the Summer School, students took part in an evening cocktail event at Hanken School of Economics. It was a nice opportunity to meet people from professional fields as well. With a live band playing and drinks and small snacks available, the evening went quickly and worked as a good kick off for the week.

Some slightly bad luck was experienced, when the rain forced us to cancel the picnic that was planned in a national park Seurasaari. After improvising we ended in a pub where they served some special beers by local breweries. Time went quickly and when people got hungry, it was time for a delicious falafel or some hamburgers, respectively. The night continued in a quirky bar a location set up in a kitch, 50’s Pacific style. If you’re lucky they will have free fruit fudges and lollipops on the bar desk, alongside with the best Mojitos in Helsinki.

Later during the week, greeted again by the sun, the students relaxed in Sinebrychoff’s park in central Helsinki. They were accompanied by some senior students from Hanken School of Economics, and were able to share experiences about university studies among IPR in different countries. Gender equality, for example, raised questions, and women working as painters and renovators were surprising to some in a very positive sense.

Socialising was also about being able to learn together by asking questions, figuring out the interesting characters of IPR and wondering about students’ own specific areas of interest. At the same time we were also able to pay some attention to sports: some of the students turned out to be quite enthusiastic football fans and conveniently it was time for the FIFA World championships alongside Summer School.

Friday was the final day of Summer School, and some students needed to catch a plane straight after the sum up of the whole week. Some participated in the Bayreuth seminar, alongside with doctoral students who arrived for that occasion especially, and those people took the most out of their last bright night in Helsinki.

Emma Laakkonen

The writers were assisting in the preparation of the Summer School. They all are studying, among other things, IP.