About IPLS
The Intellectual Property Law Society at OCU Law is a student-run organization dedicated to
connecting students with Oklahoma’s growing IP community and cultivating an authentic, creative,
and forward-thinking space to explore intellectual property law.
Our Mission
- Educate and promote the field of Intellectual Property Law
- Make connections between IP practitioners and law students
- Facilitate opportunities for our members (internships, externships, moot court sponsorships, mentorships, etc.)
- Provide a network to help law students navigate the tight-knit IP community
What is Intellectual Property?
IP Law is the law of ideas—protecting inventions, chemical compounds, music, poetry, logos, slogans, name, image & likeness (NIL), and much more!
It is one of the most versatile areas of law, offering pathways in State or Federal practice, transactional work or litigation, and JD-preferred career options. Concepts frequently encountered include contract law, business entities (corporations & LLCs), antitrust, employment/labor, cybersecurity, health/food/drug, and tax law.
Kinds of IP
- Patents: Machines, new chemical compounds, drugs, business methods, ornamental nonfunctional designs, and non-naturally occurring plants.
- Copyright: Creative works including books, poems, paintings, architectural designs, musical compositions, movies, software, and choreography.
- Trademarks: Concepts used in commerce to distinguish brands—logos, slogans, packaging, colors, smells, and distinctive trade dress for goods or services.
- Trade Secrets, NIL, Sports & Entertainment:
- Trade Secrets: Ideas, formulas, and techniques intentionally kept confidential rather than published.
- NIL: Protection against misappropriation of a person's name, image, and likeness.
- Sports & Entertainment: Legal issues dealing with the sports, media, and entertainment fields.
Upcoming Events
- “Thunder Up” OKC Thunder Attorney Panel — October (TBD)
- Dust Bowl Fundraiser (w/ local IP Attorneys) — November (TBD)
- OK IP Bar Association Networking Event — Spring 2027
- Dunlap Codding Networking Mixer — Spring 2027
Who Should Join
IPLS welcomes all students—no technical background required. The society is especially helpful
for 1Ls and students new to IP who want practical exposure, career guidance, and connections to
local practitioners and opportunities.
How to Engage
- Attend speaker series, skills workshops, and firm spotlights
- Network with attorneys and alumni at on-campus and community events
- Collaborate on student projects and competitions related to IP
- Explore internships, mentorships, and pathways into IP practice
IPLS is committed to an inclusive, professional culture that values originality and the protection of ideas.
Join us as we help shape the next chapter of intellectual property practice in Oklahoma.
