Knobbe Martens to Co-Sponsor 2013 LES Foundation International Graduate Student Business Plan Competition
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, will be a key sponsor of the 10th annual Licensing Executive Society (LES) Foundation Graduate Student Business Plan Competition. Knobbe Martens has donated an in-kind prize of up to $20,000 USD for preparation and filing of a U.S. patent application for one of the finalist teams.
More than 56 entrepreneurially-minded graduate student teams from 11 countries around the globe participated in this year’s LES Foundation competition. Each team submitted a business plan to be judged by a world-class panel of intellectual property business experts, representing a variety of industry sectors. The business plans focus on groundbreaking technologies and services that emphasize intellectual property. The six finalists, including three teams from the United States, will receive expenses-paid trips to present their IP-based business plans at the finals in Seattle, Washington on May 13, 2013.
The winning team will take home a $10,000 USD grand prize. All finalist teams will receive $1,000 and will have the opportunity to select from a pool of in-kind prizes, which includes the in-kind sponsorship provided by Knobbe Martens. The LES International Global Award and $5,000 will be presented to the team whose plan best handles intellectual property rights and their use in the global business environment.
The LES Foundation was formed by the Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc. to increase the understanding of licensing of intellectual property rights and to communicate the critical role licensing plays in bringing creativity and innovation to the commercial marketplace. For more information on the LES Foundation and the competition, visit www.lesfoundation.org.
With over 275 lawyers and scientists nationwide, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP dedicates its practice to all aspects of intellectual property law including litigation. Consistently ranked among the top intellectual property firms worldwide, Knobbe Martens serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses of all stages. Headquartered in Orange County, California, Knobbe Martens also has offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Seattle and Washington, D.C. More information about the firm can be found at www.knobbe.com.