The Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association
Please join us on Thursday, November 5, 2026 for our first regular meeting of 2026 co-hosted by The University of Akron IP & Technology Law Center!
Register by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026.
AGENDA
CLE Program
(4:30–5:30 p.m., 1.00 hr CLE credit will be applied for)
Year in Review:
Copyright, Trademarks, Publicity Rights, and U.S. Policy
Note Change in Presenters; Topic is the Same
Mark Schultz and Doug Park
The University of Akron
Professors Schultz and Park will provide expert insight into how we approach artificial intelligence from a legal perspective. They draw on years of experience in copyright practice, engagement in legal and policy debates, and co-authoring and organizing amicus briefs in several key AI copyright cases.
Their talk will provide updates on recent developments in IP law governing authorship requirements for copyrightability; AI training and copyright infringement (including the latest decision in Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence); and U.S. federal and state legislative agendas.
About the Speakers:
Professor Mark F. Schultz is the Goodyear Endowed Chair in Intellectual Property Law and Faculty Director of the IP Policy Institute at the University of Akron School of Law. His research examines how intellectual property institutions shape the global innovation ecosystem.
As a trusted advisor to governments and international organizations, he has served as an expert consultant to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and has worked with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on initiatives to close gender gaps in the global IP system. He has made presentations at the USPTO, the U.S. Copyright Office, WIPO and the World Trade Organization, and participated in the U.S.–India IP Cooperation Dialogue.
He has been engaged in copyright law and policy for decades, authoring several academic studies, white papers, and many op eds. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and House on copyright legislation and co-authored and organized numerous academic amicus briefs in copyright cases, including recent litigation regarding AI.
Before entering academia, Schultz practiced international technology and IP law at Baker & McKenzie. He holds a J.D. with honors from George Washington University and clerked for Judge Daniel Friedman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Douglas Park assists Prof. Schultz and Prof. Morris with intellectual property research and policy work. His focus is on patent law, particularly as it relates to the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare innovation, but his passion is in promoting creativity and innovation in all fields. Doug also assists students with research and writing, moot court practice, and coming to terms with the world.
Prior to joining the UA Center for Intellectual Property & Technology Law, Doug earned his B.A. in physics from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law. He has externed for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Dept. of Corrections, and Southwest Pennsylvania Legal Aid. During his time at Penn State Dickinson, Doug worked with the school’s International Programs in recruiting students, easing matriculation, and organizing school events.
Cocktail Reception
(5:30–6:15 p.m.)
Dinner CLE
(6:15–7:30 p.m., 1.00 hr CLE credit will be applied for)
The IP Agenda in Washington: An Inside View
Keynote Speaker
Coke Morgan Stewart
President and CEO, Council for Innovation Promotion
Drawing on her recent experience as Acting Director and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Coke Stewart will offer an inside perspective on the IP policy agenda in Washington. She will discuss the challenges facing the USPTO, current legislative proposals to strengthen IP rights, and what these developments mean for inventors, businesses, and practicing lawyers. Her talk will examine key debates over patent eligibility and enforcement and their implications for innovation, investment, and U.S. competitiveness. She will also discuss C4IP’s priorities for Congress and the Executive Branch and how the IP community can help shape the policies that govern their clients’ intellectual assets.
About the Speaker: Coke Morgan Stewart, President and CEO of the Council for Innovation Promotion is the former Acting Director of the USPTO, where she led one of the largest IP offices in the world--almost a $5 billion operation with over 14,000 employees located across 50 states and Puerto Rico. Ms. Stewart worked at the USPTO for 10 years and then re-joined the agency in 2025. During her tenure at the USPTO, Ms. Stewart served in many important roles, in which she defended agency decisions in federal court and advised multiple administration on a wide array of legal and policy matters, from patent eligibility to drug pricing to artificial intelligence. Ms. Stewart is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Registration Fees:
Members: Dinner CLE – $45; CLE Program – Free
In-House Members: Dinner CLE – $35; CLE Program – Free
Non-Members: Dinner CLE – $55; CLE Program – $30; Both - $75
All Students: Dinner CLE – Free; CLE Program – Free
Bundled Members: Dinner CLE and CLE Program - Prepaid, but you must register to attend the meeting
Location:
The University of Akron Student Union
Top Floor - Jean Howard Taber Student Union
303 Carroll Street
Akron, OH 44325
Click here for driving directions to the University.
Cancellations:
Any cancellations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026. Please email smgerber@jonesday.com with any cancellation—no fax or telephone cancellations will be honored.
