Abstract:

This seminar provides a basic understanding of Intellectual Property (IP) for scientists and engineers. The four major categories of IP ( Patent, Trademark, Copyright, and Trade Secret )will be discussed with specific examples. The three major categories of patents (Utility, Design and Plant) will be discussed. The principle of infringement will be outlined. Special emphasis will be given to recognizing inventive material during academic research. Inventorship and patent ownership will be discussed. Requirements for obtaining a patent will be described in detail, with special emphasis on subject matter eligibility and enablement. The protocol of an international patent application and its ramifications will also be discussed. The need for speed to file patent application will be emphasized. The perils of public disclosure prior to IP Protection will be communicated. The duties of candor involved in patent pursuit will be outlined. Purdue’s IP Policy highlights and P Education opportunities at Purdue as well as IP Protection and Commercialization protocols at Purdue will be presented.

Biography:

Dr. D.H.R. Sarma is Director of IP Protection Process at the Office of Technology Commercialization at Purdue Research Foundation. Sarma, in his role, evaluates the invention disclosures from Purdue University and provides strategic analysis and guidance in pursuing intellectual property protection and commercialization opportunities in engineering areas. He also provides intellectual property training to faculty and researchers. He is also Visiting Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University , with a passion for Intellectual Property Education. Sarma has over 30 years of experience in the automotive electronics industry and was a principal technical fellow and engineering manager in Advanced Engineering at Delphi Electronics and Safety, responsible for the development and transfer of advanced materials technologies to product applications. At Delphi Electronics and Safety, he chaired their Intellectual Property Review Board, responsible for screening inventions for patentability and commercial value. He has developed processes for mentoring innovations and cost-effective management of inventions and patent portfolios. He also served as a senior IP consultant at Hartman Global-Intellectual Property Law. He has experience in writing research proposals and collaborative research. Sarma holds 60 U.S. patents and has many publications in prestigious journals. He is co-author of a textbook on Fundamentals of Microelectronics Packaging. His many honors include: two Boss Kettering Awards, highest engineering honor for patented inventions from GM/Delphi; Glen Hall Mentoring Award Nominee (Delphi); Outstanding Materials Engineer (Purdue University); Extractive Metallurgy Science Best Paper Gold Medal (AMIE), and several best paper awards. Sarma served as the Automotive Product Sector Champion and member of the Technical Committee for iNEMI (International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative), and as member of the Purdue President’s Parents Steering Committee. Currently he is serving on the research committee of iNEMI, advisory board of the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue, and board of directors of the Engineering Alumni Association of Purdue. Sarma has a BS degree in metallurgi- cal engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, an MS degree in metallurgical engineering from Purdue University and a PhD in materials engineering from Purdue University. He is a Registered US Patent Practitioner.