Empowering Women to Advocate for Their Inventions and Obtain Patents

Women are severely underrepresented as inventors on patents, accounting for less than 13 percent of listed inventors on patent applications globally. Patent attorneys Meredith Miller and Brenda Kruse look to empower female innovators by giving them the tools and confidence they need to advocate for their inventions and navigate the patent process. A brief overview of the various types of intellectual property and the process of obtaining a patent will be presented, as well as the benefits of filing for a patent. The session will primarily focus on the specific information that is useful when submitting an invention for patenting, time issues related to filing for patents, and considerations regarding employers and patent ownership. Valuable resources for independent inventors and small business start-ups will also be provided.