Online training program focuses on intellectual property protection

An online training program for government employees working on labs helps them learn how to prevent the loss of intellectual property and data rights that are vital to economic and national security. (Contributed photo)

An online training program for government employees working on labs helps them learn how to prevent the loss of intellectual property and data rights that are vital to economic and national security. (Contributed photo)

The Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Dayton School of Law have created an online training program for government employees working on labs to learn how to prevent the loss of intellectual property and data rights that are vital to economic and national security.

According to the latest annual IP Commission Report, the estimated annual cost to the U.S. economy exceeds $225 billion in counterfeit goods, pirated software and theft of trade secrets, and could be as high as $600 billion. The National Crime Prevention Council reported 45% of U.S. businesses report losses because of intellectual property theft.

“The University of Dayton School of Law is proud to partner with the Air Force to help train its scientists and engineers and others in what they need to know about intellectual property protection. The training program is an important part of our effort to expand access to legal training beyond our traditional law students,” said University of Dayton School of Law Dean Andy Strauss.

The training, developed with the University of Dayton Learning Teaching Center and the Wilderness Agency in Dayton and taught by lead research scientists and attorneys from Air Force Materiel Command and the corporate world, combines animations and visual thinking guides to enhance retention of knowledge. It emphasizes the real-world application of intellectual property and data rights laws, negotiations and contractual agreements, according to Paul Schlottman, director of strategic initiatives for the School of Law.

“Under this partnership, we are developing much-needed IP training for the Department of Defense,” said Sabra Tomb, AFRL partnership program manager. “Our education partnership agreements are now expanding to include business, law and technology transfer training because of our need for critical intellectual property and data rights training for all scientists, engineers and contracting professionals.”

This program enhances the 3-year educational partnership agreement inked last November for the School of Law to provide AFRL engineers and scientists legal training in the area of intellectual property. That agreement was the first Air Force education partnership agreement focused on business, law, technology transfer and transition as well as the first between the Air Force and a law school.

To learn more about the partnership between AFRL and UDSL, visit www.governmentip.com.

For additional details, contact Sabra Tomb, AFRL partnership program manager, at sabra.tomb.1@us.af.mil.

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