The summit focused specifically on small to mid-sized man-
ufacturers. This focus gave those companies an opportunity to
network with large manufacturers to share resources and learn
best practices as they continue to expand and develop their
existing operations in West Virginia. Another key theme of the
inaugural manufacturing summit was the continued diversifi-
cation of the industry. As technology evolves and demand in
certain innovative tools and products increases, West Virginia’s
manufacturing experts feel the state has the tools it needs to
continue being a global industry leader.
“The manufacturing industry in West Virginia is very bright,”
says Jerry Biser, director of the West Virginia Manufacturing
Extension Partnership. “In the past few years, we’ve seen not
only manufacturers locating here but also the downstream
companies and supply chain operators following major com-
panies to our state.”
Marshall University Technology Transfer Office
Hosts Intellectual Property Seminars
The Marshall University Technology Transfer Office recently
presented three free intellectual property (IP) seminars.
The first seminar focused on 3-D printed designs and other
manufactured goods, the second on IP issues related to pharma-
ceuticals and the third on discussions related to medical devices
and applications. Each program began with an overview of
the main areas of IP law—patent, trademark, trade secret and
copyright—and continued with a focus specifically on the
various types of patent protection. The program covered not
only the statutory requirements for obtaining a patent but also
university ownership of inventions, the differences between a
patent application and a technical publication, the differences
between inventorship and authorship, issues to consider to pre-
serve patent rights in an academic setting and determining if
an invention is ready for patenting.
The sessions were led by attorney Terry Wright of the firm
Stites & Harbison PLLC of Louisville, KY, and Amy Melton,
assistant director of Marshall’s Technology Transfer Office.
Capito and Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to
Remove Unnecessary Restrictions on LNG Exports
U.S. senators Shelley Moore Capito, Bill Cassidy, MD, and
John Kennedy and U.S. Representative Clay Higgins have rein-
troduced the License Natural Gas (LNG) Now Act to remove
barriers placed on U.S. exporters so they can quickly access
the market and meet the global demand of natural gas. This
legislation would revamp the current system put in place by the
U.S. Department of Energy decades ago and continue market
growth of LNG exports without any delays.
“I’m always working to grow West Virginia’s energy indus-
try,” says Capito. “This legislation would expand international
markets for natural gas produced in West Virginia while
supporting American foreign policy and reducing our allies’
dependence on hostile sources of energy like Russia and Iran.”
Under the bill, the U.S. would have the opportunity to meet
the anticipated 4-5 percent of the annual LNG global demand
growth. The administration would also retain the ability to limit
natural gas importation and exportation levels during emer-
gencies, disasters or exchanges with particular foreign nations.
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