ASSIGNMENT PROMPT:

Gemma and James have pooled their savings to create a start-up company to develop and market an idea they conceived while students together at MIT. They obtained permission to use a college lab during late night hours a few nights a week during their last term before graduating to work on the project. Then they were able to move to James’ parents’ garage. Now they need more sophisticated resources. They have created a prototype robotic device that will aid first responders in disaster relief by sensing and locating survivors remotely in areas unsafe for humans and dogs to navigate. The robot’s sensors will locate living beings and can scan vitals and assess level of trauma. They have mapped out both private, public civil and military applications of this invention plus continued R & D improvement into next-phase capabilities. They have not shared their theory, the prototype, their documentation or any of the associated hard and soft technologies with anyone, but anticipate needing to do so to obtain a funding source. They are concerned about others learning of their technology ahead of their chance to obtain customers, because they caught a nosy classmate of theirs, Clarence, hanging around their lab.

Explain and discuss:

1. The type of business organization Gemma and James should use to organize their business entity;
2. The four types of intellectual property (IP) and which of these have application to Gemma and James’ invention. Include case law that illustrates these;
3. The steps Gemma and James should take to protect their invention.
4. What recourse they might have against Clarence (or someone like him) if he has indeed obtained knowledge of their invention, and how such a dispute might be resolved.

Concepts that should be included in your essay:

• Types of business organizations;
• Legal environment of business;
• Types of IP;
• IP protection;
• Relevant methodologies and practices as illustrated by major contributors or organizations (e.g. US PTO, WIPO);
• IP litigation claims and defenses and types of alternate dispute resolution (ADR), including case law that illustrates types of ADR in practice (especially IP);
• Considerations of business management for handling IP innovation, selection of IP protections;
• Business compliance issues that Gemma and James should consider.

Be creative! Organize your paper in APA format using appropriate headings with smooth transitions.

In addition to the case law, you must research and cite scholarly sources, one of which must be your textbook. (See rubric – Exemplary level requires 4 sources plus textbook.)

Please review the Rubric for this Assignment, as it is included as part of the instructions (attached).

Also attached: APA Paper- Writing Tips PPT to assist you in formatting your paper and citations. You can also refer to Purdue’s THE OWL, and APUS Library for APA guidelines.

Word length: The Exemplary level of the Rubric is 1500-2100 words. These are exclusive of title page and the References list. Also, you do not need to include an abstract.

Grading Rubric