Join us as Christine Gramer, senior licensing associate at the University of Oregon and co-lead of the Women’s Innovation Network, and Shelby Stepper, associate at Klarquist, discuss how to protect your company’s brand by using intellectual property protections.
We’ll discuss the fundamentals of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. We’ll learn how each can be used to protect your company’s brand. Attendees will have a chance to apply this learning to their own projects and entrepreneurial endeavors.
About the Speakers:
Christine Gramer, Senior Technology Development Associate, University of Oregon
Christine Gramer is a senior technology development associate in the University of Oregon’s Innovation Partnership Services (IPS). She holds a PhD in chemistry and is a registered patent agent. Christine has twenty years of experience in patent and intellectual property management.
Her professional career has been primarily dedicated towards the commercialization of university innovations in the University of Oregon’s Innovation Partnership Services (IPS) where her primary interest is in the applications of fundamental science discoveries and their implementation for the betterment of society. In her role at IPS, Christine evaluates innovations, manages all steps of obtaining a patent (and perfecting other statutory IP rights), researches technical markets, negotiates licenses and other agreements, and assists UO research-based start-up companies with formation. Equally important to the intellectual property and business functions mentioned above, she enjoys serving as a resource to UO faculty and students in both informal roles and in structured educational settings.
Shelby Stepper, Klarquist Associate
Shelby’s practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property law with a primary focus on patent litigation. She earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law.
Shelby specializes in various technologies including life sciences and biotechnology, agriculture and food science, and plants.
Prior to joining Klarquist, Shelby clerked for the Oregon Court of Appeals. While attending law school, Shelby interned at the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to law school, she worked as a researcher in a biotechnology laboratory.
A Note About Gender: We intend for the words “women” and “woman” to include anyone who identifies with the word. We recognize that gender is a broad spectrum, and we aim to celebrate everyone on this spectrum. We always welcome allies and accomplices to join us.
The Women’s Innovation Network is a joint initiative between the University of Oregon and Onward Eugene. Our 2022-23 seminar series is sponsored by Klarquist Sparkman LLP.