IP Work Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone managed to break into soft IP work (ie. copyright/trademark) without having a technical background/degree?

[09042014]

Anyone managed to break into soft IP work (ie. copyright/trademark) without having a technical background/degree?

I'm not totally sure a lot of people specialize in it. I can't imagine the work is steady. It's stuff that general litigators can handle.

I could be wrong. And some firms do specialize.

[Anonymous User]

I work at a large national firm and specialize in TM/Copyright. I do TTAB litigation work and do not handle traditional litigation work, but the majority of my day is focused on prosecution of trademarks/copyrights, due dilligence for corporate transactions, and licensing agreements.

There is no reason i can think of to take a tech background over a non-technical degree (and I do not have a tech degree), other than if you operate in the software industries it can come in helpful for software copyright applications. Actually, no one in my office has a technical degree (can't speak to other offices).

[Anonymous User]

I work at a large national firm and specialize in TM/Copyright. I do TTAB litigation work and do not handle traditional litigation work, but the majority of my day is focused on prosecution of trademarks/copyrights, due dilligence for corporate transactions, and licensing agreements.

There is no reason i can think of to take a tech background over a non-technical degree (and I do not have a tech degree), other than if you operate in the software industries it can come in helpful for software copyright applications. Actually, no one in my office has a technical degree (can't speak to other offices).

Any suggestions for how to break into this type of work?

[reasonable_man]

I work at a mid-sized national firm and do soft IP, i.e. some licensing and litigation. I've brought a lot of the work in myself and I've had a case or two assigned to me by partners because I have the background in it from my own clients. My advice, be friendly with people that have small start ups or are very creative.

[Anonymous User]

I work at a large national firm and specialize in TM/Copyright. I do TTAB litigation work and do not handle traditional litigation work, but the majority of my day is focused on prosecution of trademarks/copyrights, due dilligence for corporate transactions, and licensing agreements.

There is no reason i can think of to take a tech background over a non-technical degree (and I do not have a tech degree), other than if you operate in the software industries it can come in helpful for software copyright applications. Actually, no one in my office has a technical degree (can't speak to other offices).

Any suggestions for how to break into this type of work?

If you don't summer somewhere and have the ability to get in that way, I would try to focus on classes your school may offer in the IP realm and play that up if/when positions open up. At least that way it shows you have an interest in the area. There's no magic to soft IP, versus any other practice area in this regard, though.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I'm graduated/already practicing but my firm doesn't do any IP work and I have limited law school experience in it. Just wondering how I might approach trying to learn that area/get my foot in the door.