Patton Boggs Intellectual Property Attorneys Present IP Seminars In Qatar

DOHA, Qatar, March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of attorneys from Patton Boggs LLP discussed key intellectual property (IP) issues and explored the IP needs of Qatar companies, researchers and inventors at several intellectual property seminars held last week in Qatar. In addition to presenting "Intellectual Property Protection and Strategies" to a group of Qatar clients and colleagues, the Patton Boggs IP team presented a seminar at Qatar University (QU).

The seminars featured presentations by attorneys from Patton Boggs, including Dr. Scott Chambers, a partner and Chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Department, and Deborah Lodge, a partner specializing in intellectual property, privacy and Internet law. The seminars also included contributions by Martin Goggins Campos, Of Counsel based in the firm's Doha office, and Susan Bastress, Managing Partner of the Doha Office.

Dr. Chambers, Ms. Lodge and the Patton Boggs team have extensive experience assisting companies with a variety of intellectual property matters. They shared current trends and best practices – both local and international – in critical IP areas such as patents, trademarks, copyright, social media, and privacy. Topics included identifying inventions and viable trademarks, protecting a company's reputation in social media, and negotiating technology licenses and transfers.

"QU researchers found the seminar to be informative and useful," noted Laura Reynaud, Legal Advisor at QU's Office for Academic Research (OAR), which is tasked with handling patent applications on behalf of QU and providing legal assistance to graduate students, researchers and faculty on issues relating to patent of inventions and research findings.

"A global market requires global thinking about patents and other forms of intellectual property," said Dr. Chambers. "We intend to explore patent protection benefits and limitations during our sessions. The worldwide nature of today's economy presents inventors and companies with new challenges in deciding which patents to protect and where to seek patent protection."

Ms. Lodge echoed the importance of maintaining international perspectives: "In this global market, companies need to ensure that their marks are protected around the world and across all media platforms. ICANN's recent deployment of new Top Level Domains and the continuing popularity of social media add to the challenges of protecting companies' trademarks and reputations."

These IP seminars are part of continuing outreach by Patton Boggs to its clients in the Middle East and elsewhere. As Ms. Bastress stated: "Patton Boggs was founded as an international firm in the 1960's. Holding these IP seminars in Qatar reflects the firm's continuing commitment to the global market and our international clients."

Other Patton Boggs partners also have traveled to the Middle East recently to give presentations on topical issues and meet with clients in emerging markets in the Middle East. The firm's offices in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh continue to serve the firm's Middle East and international clients on a myriad of legal matters, including construction law, trade law, dispute resolution and business law, as well as IP.

ABOUT PATTON BOGGS

Patton Boggs is a leader in public policy, litigation and business law. The firm's core practice areas are government relations and lobbying, administrative and regulatory, commercial and transactional, litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property and international law.

From offices in Anchorage, Dallas, Denver, New Jersey, New York, and Washington DC, and internationally in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and Riyadh, nearly 400 lawyers and professionals provide comprehensive, practical legal counsel to clients around the globe. For more information about the firm or its attorneys, visit www.pattonboggs.com.