Junior Girls Scouts had an amazing experience at the Intellectual Property Patch Event! 29 Juniors learned about patents, trademarks, and how to patent their own inventions from the expert attorneys, software companies and the U.S. Patent Office. Did you know that women account for less than 20% of U.S. patents granted? This event highlighted many great inventions have been patented by women and encouraged our girls to invent great things and get a patent!
Here are girls are learning about what a patent is, how important it is, and the technical parts of a patent. They had to draw a beach towel that provided complete sun coverage just from patent instructions. The girls also had to brainstorm ideas on how to improve the product to be included in a potential patent. We had some pretty creative Girl Scouts!
The Girl Scouts also learned about trademarks and had to come up with an original trademark, song, cheer, or poem that described them. They also learned how to protect what they created with copyrights. There were some great songs and logos!
A favorite part was the Passport to Intellectual Property fair where Girl Scouts visited directly with patent attorneys and companies that had really interesting patented technical inventions. They had to visit booths, give the inventions a try, and then get a stamp to earn their IP patch. Girl Scouts were also able to earn requirements towards their Junior Product Designer Badge.
Here Girl Scouts are learning about the four parts of patent law from attorneys from Gordon & Rees using Pez dispensers.
The U.S. Patent Office team shared info about Juliette Gordon Low, who holds two patents – one for the Trefoil and for a paper trash can liner. Girl Scouts used Low’s patent to make a small version of the liner from the exact instructions on her patent.
Girl Scouts tried some GPS mapping with Trimble.
There were a lot of great people and organizations that made this happen! A BIG thank you goes to the amazing team who made the event possible:
· Julie Kane Akhter, Microsoft, the event organizer. Julie’s Girl Scout knowledge and professional expertise helped ensure this was a great event!
· Megan Griggs, Intellectual Property Owners Association. We appreciated Megan’s support on logistics and the event patch for our Girl Scouts!
· Molly Kocialski, Director, Rocky Mountain Reginal US Patent and Trade Mark Office. Molly and her team provided great instruction, support and a comfortable venue for the event!
We loved the presentations shared with the girls by these talented folks:
· Craig Mueller, Sheridan Ross P.C., who taught the girls about patents.
· Sarah Burrows, HP, Inc., who taught the girls what’s needed to copyright their intellectual property.
· Sarah Schneider, Sheridan Ross P.C., who taught our girls the importance of trademarks.
Thank you to the IPO Education Foundation, IPO Women in IP Committee, and Google for sponsoring the event!
A big thank you to these organizations that shared their inventions and expertise at the fair:
· US Patent and Trademark Office
· Rocky Mountain Patent Office
· Gordon & Rees
· HP
· Medtronic
· Merchant & Gould
· Microsoft
· Sheridan Ross P.C.
· Trimble
A big thank you to Carole Vowell and Cindy Miller for GSCO support at the event!
Upcoming Events
· Operation Hope’s Banking on Our Future Financial Literacy workshop for older girls, Dec. 10, 2016, Denver. Cadettes and older will learn about budgeting, saving, and financing their dreams. Find more event info here.
· Girl Scout Day with the Colorado Avalanche, Jan 14, 2017. Join us for annual day with the Avs. Pre-game cookie rally and a co-branded GSCO/Avalanche hat planned. Find ticket info here.
Questions or interested in learning more about these events? Contact GSCO Community Partnerships Manager Lori Thompson.