Why does intellectual property law matter in an innovation-driven economy?

Daniel Drane III

Executive Director, Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property and the Center for Law, Science and Innovation

Daniel Drane III leads ASU Law’s Center for Law, Science and Innovation and the Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property, driving the centers' growth and vision.

If you work anywhere near innovation — technology, startups, research, creative industries or advanced manufacturing — intellectual property law is already shaping your decisions.

As Executive Director of the Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property and the Center for Law, Science and Innovation, I see this every day. Intellectual property law isn’t just about patents filed in distant courtrooms. It’s about how ideas move from concept to market, how organizations protect value and how technological advancement actually survives in the real world.

That reality is only accelerating as emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) reshape how ideas are created, shared and commercialized.

At ASU Law, we prepare students for that reality through multiple degree programs, including a JD focus area in Intellectual Property Law and a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) emphasis in Intellectual Property Law — each intentionally designed for different professional goals.

What is intellectual property law, really?

At its core, intellectual property (IP) law governs how ideas are protected, shared, licensed and commercialized. It includes several interconnected areas:

• Patent law – protecting inventions and technical developments
• Trademark law – safeguarding brands, names and symbols
• Copyright law – covering creative works like software, media and design
• Trade secrets – protecting confidential business information

What has changed in recent years is how quickly ideas move. IP law today operates in environments shaped by software development, data-driven systems and automation — not just traditional invention pipelines.

Why intellectual property law matters beyond lawyers

There’s a misconception that IP law only matters if you plan to become a patent attorney. In reality, many of the people influencing IP decisions are not lawyers, even though those decisions carry legal consequences.

That’s especially true in innovation-driven organizations, where techvelopment — the accelerated intersection of product development, research and commercialization — often outpaces formal legal review.

Professionals who benefit from intellectual property law knowledge include:

• Startup founders and product managers
• Engineers and research scientists
• Technology transfer and commercialization professionals
• Compliance and risk managers
• Creative directors and media professionals
• Business and licensing professionals

In these roles, understanding IP law helps teams move quickly without losing control of ownership, attribution or competitive advantage.

Two pathways into intellectual property law at ASU Law

ASU Law offers distinct degree programs through which to study Intellectual Property Law, empowering students to align their legal education with their specific career goals.

Juris Doctor

The JD focus area in Intellectual Property Law is designed for students who intend to practice law or work in IP-intensive legal roles. It provides deep doctrinal training and is closely connected to the Wolin Family Center’s research, programming and scholarly work.

Master of Legal Studies

The MLS emphasis in Intellectual Property Law is built for professionals who need legal fluency without becoming attorneys. MLS students learn how IP law functions so they can participate meaningfully in strategy, innovation management and decision-making alongside legal counsel.

You don’t have to reshape your career goals to fit a rigid curriculum. ASU Law meets students exactly where they are — preparing future lawyers for cutting-edge IP practice and equipping industry professionals to apply legal insight in rapid-growth environments.

How the Wolin Family Center for IP Law shapes this experience

ASU Law has long taken a forward-looking approach to legal education. That mindset is especially important in intellectual property law, where change is constant. The Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property plays a central role in ASU Law’s IP ecosystem.

Its work sits at the intersection of law, science, technology and entrepreneurship, shaping how future lawyers think about emerging technologies and intellectual property in practice.

That perspective also informs the broader IP environment at ASU Law. While the Center’s core mission supports JD-focused scholarship and training, its influence extends across programs — ensuring that all students studying IP are grounded in real-world challenges and current innovation dynamics.

IP law doesn’t live in isolation, and neither does our academic approach

Our IP offerings are:

• Integrated across JD and MLS pathways
• Taught by faculty engaged in real IP ecosystems
• Grounded in practical application, not abstraction
• Designed to evolve alongside technology and industry

Whether your goal is legal practice or professional leadership in innovation-driven fields, ASU Law offers a clear path into intellectual property law — without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.