Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

• Biofuels Journal's 2nd Annual Commercial Ethanol Technology and Research Workshop

• October 2009

• Craane Explains How Legal IP Strategies Protect Cutting-Edge Ethanol Technologies

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun partner Paul C. Craane presents: “Protecting Your Intellectual Property” at the 2nd Annual Commercial Ethanol Technology and Research Workshop on Thursday, October 29. Mr. Craane’s presentation focuses on improving the ethanol industry’s bottom line with legal strategies connected to breakthrough technologies such as displacing natural gas for energy savings, fractionation, and the addition of new co-products to increase profitability.

Highlights of Mr. Craane’s presentation include:

• Utility Patents are Central for Biofuels: These patents can exclude others from making, using, selling, offering for sale and importing the claimed subject matter.
• Common Costly Patent Misconception: While a patent gives the “right to exclude others,” it does not give a company the right to use and practice its own claimed subject matter.
• Combining Trade Secret Protection with “Secret” Patent Applications:  Provides best overall protection until finally time to decide to follow trade secret or patent protection approach.
• Block Out Competitors with a Patent Thicket: To best thwart competitors, file initially on primary or core technologies and file later on lesser and/or secondary byproducts or processes.
• Patent Interests of Biofuel Investors: Investors want to exclude entry of competitors, leverage opportunities for licensing revenue streams, increase acquisition valuations and cross-license capability.

For complete agenda and registration information, visit the Biofuels Journal Web site.