IP Licensing 101: Crafting a robust licensing agreement

Courtney Sarnow | Culhane Haughian & Walsh PLLC

Courtney Sarnow is a partner in the Atlanta office of Culhane Meadows with over twenty five years of experience in a broad-based transactional practice with a specific focus on intellectual property and technology. She has developed a distinctly creative and problem solving approach to address client plans and issues. As a young attorney, Ms. Sarnow learned that focusing on what a client can’t do and shouldn’t do is unnecessarily limiting and seldom helps the client maximize corporate opportunities. Her approach of looking for ways to accomplish corporate goals within an informed legal framework is more valuable for growth focused, technology forward companies than a stereotypical corporate counsel who instinctively thwarts innovation.

Early in her career with Dow, Lohnes & Albertson in Atlanta, she worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group and in IP Licensing with traditional clients, as well as some unusual NASCAR and Professional Bull Rider representation thrown in from time to time. This gave her an appreciation for creative clients. After a sojourn in Philadelphia at Temple University as a Teaching Fellow earning an LLM in Law Teaching and studying developing issues in computer law and software licensing, she returned to Atlanta to teach as an Adjunct at Emory Law and develop a practice focused on intellectual property protection and general corporate strategies for artists, inventers, and innovative entrepreneurial ventures.

I. Understanding intellectual property | 12:00pm – 12:30pm

• Definition and types of intellectual property
• Importance of intellectual property rights
• Key considerations in IP licensing

II. Basics of licensing agreements | 12:30pm – 1:00pm

• Understanding of licensing agreements
• Essential elements of a licensing agreement
• Common terms and provisions
• Creative commons licenses

Break | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

III.Drafting and drafting techniques | 1:10pm – 1:40pm

• Drafting considerations and best practices
• Understanding legal language in licensing agreements
• Drafting for clarity and enforceability

IV. Negotiation strategies | 1:40pm – 2:10pm

• Preparing for negotiations
• Identifying and addressing key issues
• Strategies for achieving Win-Win agreements