
Is There a “Right to Repair”? And What Do IP Professionals Need to Know About It? (RECORDING)
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Manufacturers, sellers, and software developers, sometimes restrict access to proprietary information and IP to ensure that products and software continue to operate in the intended manner, which can sometimes limit the ability of consumers to make modifications or repairs. In recent years, advocates of a “right to repair” have sought to change that practice, arguing that consumers should have a right to use, modify, and repair anything they purchase whenever, wherever, and however they want. Those advocates have introduced legislation at the federal and state level targeted at a host of industries, including medical infrastructure, digital equipment, vehicles, and farm equipment. But these proposals often conflict with and threaten established intellectual property rights. In this webinar, panelists will explore this tension as well as developments in proposed legislation on right to repair and efforts by some IP owners to seek private arrangements with industry groups as an alternative to legislative action.

John Cheek
Vice President & Chief Intellectual Property Counsel
Tenneco Inc.
John Cheek is Vice President & Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for Tenneco Inc., one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of clean air and ride performance products and systems for the automotive, commercial truck, and off-highway markets and the aftermarket. In addition to his enterprise role, Mr. Cheek also leads the IP group Tenneco’s DRiV division, which focuses on ride performance and aftermarket automotive parts. Prior to joining Tenneco in 2017, Mr. Cheek was senior IP leader at Caterpillar Inc., where he served in leadership roles in the US and Europe. Prior to joining Caterpillar in 1997, Mr. Cheek was in private practice. Mr. Cheek received an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics from Wabash College and completed additional undergraduate studies in Physics and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Dayton and Bradley University. He also received a J.D. from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He is a regular lecturer on intellectual property strategy and management at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and currently serves on the Executive Committee for ACPC and the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for IPO.
Elizabeth Ferrill
Partner
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP
Beth Ferrill is a partner in Finnegan’s Washington, DC office, where she counsels clients who hold design patents as well as those accused of infringement. She has experience with design patents related to consumer and industrial products, medical devices, transportation and construction vehicles, and graphical user interfaces and icons. She has prosecuted families of design patents before the USPTO, directed prosecution in foreign in countries, and argued appeals before the PTAB. Beth currently serves as the co-vice chair of IPO’s Industrial Designs Committee.

Joshua Simmons
Partner
Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
Joshua Simmons focuses his practice on appellate and trial court litigation, intellectual property counseling and strategic portfolio management, as well as regulatory and legislative policy. This “exceptional” and “creative” (Chambers), “Top Attorney” (Law360), and “big-picture thought leader” (WTR) litigates copyright, patent, right of publicity, trademark, trade secret, and unfair competition cases—particularly complex cases and those of first impression—along with contract, licensing, and domain name disputes. In addition to maintaining a full-time litigation practice, Josh is a member of Kirkland’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and the Coordinator of its New York Kirkland Pride affinity group. He also is a frequent speaker and author on emerging trends in intellectual property, as well as an active member of the intellectual property bar, including serving as Vice Chair of IPO’s Copyright Law & Anti-Piracy Committee, and a former Vice Chair of its Software-Related Inventions Committee.
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