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Intellectual Property Section
The Intellectual Property Section strives to promote the practice of intellectual property law and focuses on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and related matters. The Section promotes the development of industry and the useful arts by encouraging the establishment, maintenance, respect for, and utilization of intellectual property rights that fairly balance the limited monopoly enjoyed by the owner of intellectual property rights with the benefit to society derived from the creation of useful subject matter protectable by those rights.
The Section provides benefits to members by providing continuing legal education events, including the Intellectual Property Institute, and publishing a newsletter. The Section conducts outreach activities with members and law students providing financial support to law students attending law schools in Washington state. The Section reviews, comments on, and makes recommendations related to pending legislation, and proposes statutory enactments to improve and to facilitate the administration of justice.
Annual Report | Budget | Bylaws | Year in Review | Elections
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The Intellectual Property Section offers many resources and benefits for members. On this page you will find information about the section, their upcoming events and offerings, as well as information about the section's executive committee.
Upcoming ProgramsOn-Demand CLE Programs | Executive Committee |
Upcoming Programs
Application Portal for Executive Committee Elections Open!
Election season is here! If you are interested in applying to serve on your section's executive committee, head over to the Intellectual Property Section Election Page to see a list of open positions and how to apply.
If you have any questions, please email sections@wsba.org.
NEW In-Person or Virtual! The 30th Annual Intellectual Property Institute
Register for In-person or Virtual Now!
Presented in partnership with the WSBA Intellectual Property Section
Join us for the 30th Annual 2025 IP Institute, in-person or online with faculty from across the world, country, and state presenting on crucial topics such as: updates from Europe, design patents, trademark updates and patent monetization. To celebrate 30 years of this impactful program, a networking buffet luncheon will be provided for in-person attendees. Don't miss the valuable camaraderie and content.
Where: Washington State Bar Association, 1325 4th Ave, Ste 600, Seattle, WA 98101-2539
When: April 24, 2025
Time: 8:55 a.m.–4 p.m. PDT
Credits: 5.00 Law & Legal Procedure
Register Online for In-Person or Virtual now!
On-Demand CLE Programs
The Intellectual Property Section has a great list of on-demand CLEs available. Click the following links to learn more.
| Title | Agenda | Law & Legal | Ethics | Equity Ethics | Other | Total |
| The 29th Annual Intellectual Property Institute | Agenda | 4.75 | 1.00 | 5.75 | ||
| IP — Licensing | Agenda | 4.50 | 1.00 | 5.50 | ||
| IP Timely Topics | Agenda | 5.25 | 1.00 | 0.50 | 6.75 | |
| The 28th Annual Intellectual Property Institute | Agenda | 7.75 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 9.75 | |
| IP Licensing | Agenda | 6.00 | 6.00 | |||
| IP Timely Topics | Agenda | 6.50 | 6.50 | |||
| The 27th Annual Intellectual Property Institute | Agenda | 5.50 | 2.00 | 7.50 | ||
| IP Licensing in 2022 | Agenda | 5.25 | 1.00 | 6.25 |
Executive Committee
Chair: Connie Wan (2024-2025) Chair-Elect: Syed Abedi (2024-2025) Immediate Past Chair: Rodney Tullett (2024-2025) Secretary/Treasurer: Jim Vana (2024-2025) Young Lawyer Liaison*: Heather Hedeen (2024-2026) Board of Governors Liaison*: Alain Villeneuve | At-Large Members: Greg Plichta (2023-2025) *Nonvoting member |
Please contact subcommittee member for details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
To join the Section list serve and get general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the Section, please contact the Section chair, Connie Wan.
