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Welcome to IP @ the U, a periodic newsletter for students, alumni, faculty and friends of the University of Utah College of Law's Program on Intellectual Property and Technology Law. This issue covers a range of IP highlights from the Spring 2023 semester.

IP PROGRAM RANKED #26 BY U.S. NEWS

We are delighted to announce that the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Program at the College of Law was ranked this as the #26 IP program nationally by U.S. News and World Report. This is the highest ranking yet for our IP program, and thanks are due to our talented faculty, staff and students for this achievement!

See the full April 2024 issue »

IP News


From engineering to essential patents: Braden Brown leads IP law student organization

May 05, 2025

Since he was a child, 2L Braden Brown planned to become an engineer. During the third year of his program in electrical engineering, his advisors told him to specialize in a particular field. Even after taking a broad range of classes, nothing seemed to stand out.

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Protecting intellectual property: Meet 1L James Finn

Mar 27, 2025

Even as a high school student, 1L James Finn knew he wanted to earn his JD and practice patent law. He entered the University of Minnesota intending to earn a bachelor’s degree in science and then apply for law school, but he realized he needed more education first.

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Professor Jorge Contreras named distinguished professor of law

Mar 20, 2025

Professor Jorge Conteras has been named a distinguished professor of law, effective July 1, 2025.

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Law of artificial intelligence: Professor Matthew Tokson prepares students for AI legal issues

Mar 12, 2025

Fourth Amendment scholar Professor Matthew Tokson has taught at Utah Law since 2017, focusing on law and technology and originally teaching a cyberlaw seminar. In January, he began teaching a new seminar about what has become a new research interest: artificial intelligence (AI).

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Bench to Bedside: Students get practical IP law experience through medical device competition

Mar 06, 2025

What do OrthoBolt, Noriscope, CathSecure, AdhesioNix, and T-Scope have in common? They’re all award-winning medical innovations designed by Utah teams in the annual Bench to Bedside (B2B) program—.and Utah Law students have a unique role in helping these teams protect their inventions.

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Professor Jonas Anderson quoted in New York Times article about Utah Hockey Club

Jan 30, 2025

Professor Jonas Anderson, a patent law expert, is quoted in a New York Times article about the Utah Hockey Club’s attempts to find a new longterm name that isn’t trademarked.

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Professor Jorge Contreras testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee about RESTORE Patent Rights Act

Dec 18, 2024

Professor Jorge Contreras, an intellectual law expert, testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at its hearing “The RESTORE Patent Rights Act: Restoring America’s Status as the Global IP Leader” on Dec. 18.

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Protecting creativity: 3L Matt Petersen pursues career in IP law

Nov 05, 2024

Though 3L Matt Petersen comes from a family of multiple lawyers and worked as a runner for a law firm in high school, he wasn’t set on a career in law and had planned to apply to medical school instead. While earning his bachelor’s degree in English and biology at Utah Valley University, Petersen held two different jobs that steered him toward law school.

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Professor Jorge Contreras testifies before national IP Subcommittee

Jul 29, 2024

Professor Jorge Contreras, an expert in intellectual property and technology law, testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet at its hearing “IP Litigation and the U.S. International Trade Commission.”

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Professor Jorge Contreras talks to media about Henrietta Lacks’ family’s settlement

Aug 10, 2023

Professor Jorge Contreras, an expert in genetics and intellectual property, recently spoke to The New York Times and The Baltimore Sun about the family of Henrietta Lacks’ settlement with biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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College of Law to host FTC Commissioner and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust for discussion on consumer welfare

Mar 30, 2023

This event will take place on Monday, April 10 between 12:00-2:30 pm and is titled Do Consumers Still Reign Supreme in the Antitrust Hierarchy? How […]

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University of Utah Law hosts symposium on consumer protection law featuring FTC Chair Lina Khan

Nov 10, 2022

Utah Law recently hosted a symposium focused on antitrust and consumer protection law, with the keynote address given by Federal Trace Commission Chair Lina Khan. […]

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Contreras Elected to American Law Institute

Jan 07, 2022

Jorge Contreras, professor at the College of Law and University of Utah presidential scholar, has been elected to The American Law Institute (ALI). Contreras was […]

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Utah Law professors present at AALS Annual Meeting

Jan 04, 2022

The S.J. Quinney College of Law is honored to recognize the many faculty members who will be presenting or leading section meetings at the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting.

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Transborder Patent Litigation

Nov 11, 2021

Professor Contreras was recently quoted in the Wall St. Journal and the Economist, discussing China’s rapidly expanding role in international patent litigation involving industry standards […]

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Bench2Bedside Competition

Nov 11, 2021

Again this year, the College of Law will be supporting the Center for Medical Innovation’s annual Bench2Bedside competition, advising and coaching student teams from across […]

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Book Panel: Jorge Contreras’s “The Genome Defense”

Nov 11, 2021

On Nov. 8, Professor of Law Jorge Contreras discussed his new book, “The Genome Defense,” with Professor of Law Erika George and Dr. Lynn Jorde, chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

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Professor Contreras served as Chair of the (AALS)

Aug 20, 2021

Professor Contreras served as Chair of the Art Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and organized a series of events at […]

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Professor Amelia Rinehart supervised students in the (LABS)

Aug 20, 2021

Professor Amelia Rinehart supervised students in the Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences (LABS) as they advised interdisciplinary teams about patent law during the Bench […]

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Special Guest In The Trademark Law Class

Aug 20, 2021

Simon Tam, bassist, and lyricist for The Slants, which prevailed at the Supreme Court in Matal v. Tam (U.S. 2016), appeared as a special guest […]

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Professor Contreras co-founded the Open COVID Pledge (OCP)

Aug 20, 2021

In April, 2020, Professor Contreras co-founded the Open COVID Pledge (OCP), a legal framework enabling organizations to contribute intellectual property to the COVID-19 response on […]

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Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in the manner recommended by Professor Terry Kogan

Aug 20, 2021

The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in the manner recommended by Professor Terry Kogan in an amicus brief that he filed in […]

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2021 National Patent Application Draft Competition

Aug 20, 2021

Ryan Anderson, Kevin Busby, Victoria Cheng, Jessi Maupin and Matt Whitehead, coached by Professor Sam Tahmassebi, advanced to the semifinals in the USPTO’s National Patent […]

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Professor Contreras on the BBC World Service Business Matters

Aug 20, 2021

Professor Contreras discussed the intellectual property waiver proposed by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w172xvq9r0rsxwzBBC World Service Business […]

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Works in Progress in IP (WIPIP) Conference

Aug 20, 2021

The College of Law was proud to co-host the (virtual) annual Works in Progress in IP (WIPIP) Conference, together with Texas A&M and American University. […]

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Professor Jorge Contreras testified before the S. Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee

Aug 20, 2021

In June, Professor Jorge Contreras testified before the S. Senate Intellectual Property Subcommittee on issues of patent quality, arguing for increased vigilance against fraudulent and other inoperable patents.

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AIPLA Giles Rich Moot Court Competition

Aug 20, 2021

Jessi Maupin and Brady Nash, coached by Professor Dave Johnson, won the Best Brief Award in the Western Region of the AIPLA Giles Rich Moot […]

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