By: Josh Sloat

We're excited to announce that we're welcoming Albert "Al" Du to the growing Aurora family! Al joins us this Spring, starting his role as ​a Patent Strategist. Al is a USPTO-registered patent attorney with over 10 years of experience, serving as a patent attorney/agent at a number of law firms across a wide variety of technology areas. Al is one of the kindest spirits you'll meet and enjoys working with inventors to address the disconnect between the law and the process of innovation. Al brings incredible breath of insight, having worked on both sides of the prosecution table – now as a patent attorney and previously as an examiner at the USPTO.

Digital and Mechanical Expertise. Al holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a Juris Doctorate from The Catholic University of America: Columbus School of Law. Al has drafted and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications for clients in the areas of software, blockchain, IoT, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, drone applications, vehicle automation, and medical devices.

In his spare time, Al enjoys time with his family (wife and two girls), hiking, and is always learning something new. Lately, Al has largely been focused on Brazilian jiu-jitsu and acoustic guitar!
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By: Josh Sloat

We're excited to announce that we're welcoming Dr. Tiffany C. Miller to the growing Aurora family! Tiffany joins us this Spring, starting her role as ​a Patent Strategist. Tiffany has been a proud member of the Patent Bar since 2008. She is skilled in drafting patent applications that are focused on withstanding litigation and patent proceedings, which makes all the difference when it comes to enforcing your patents and overcoming patent validity challenges during patent enforcement proceedings. During her time running her own practice, Tiffany gained invaluable insights from managing portfolios ranging all the way from small solo inventors to Big Tech giants. 

Digital, Electrical, and Mechanical Expertise. Tiffany holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, a Master of Science in Engineering Science, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from USF. She has expertly crafted and prosecuted patents across many innovation fields, including mechanical, life sciences, biotechnology, electrical engineering, biomedical, formulations, automotive, aviation, and semiconductors.

In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys spending time with family and flying a Cessna-172 as a solo pilot. 
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By: Josh Sloat

In this month’s episode, we’re getting high on innovation with a deep dive into cannabis patents.  As more and more states relax restrictions on both medical and recreational uses of marijuana and hemp, the U.S. cannabis industry is projected to reach $50 billion in sales this year and over $74.6 billion by 2032! This rapid growth is happening despite immense challenges brought on by a complex and conflicting web of legal disparities between federal and state laws. These legal challenges include limited access to financial institutions and the inability to transport products across state lines, but what about patents? THC - the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis – was deemed a Schedule One drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This is the most restrictive category for drugs in the eyes of the federal government. And unlike most other property rights, patents fall squarely within federal jurisdiction. So what does this mean for inventors in the space hoping to protect their cannabis-related innovations?
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For the answer, we turned to the expert in the space. There have only been five or so cannabis patent infringement cases ever filed in the United States, and our guest host today has worked on two of them. James Gourley is a partner at Carstens, Allen & Gourley, LLP, and a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. James served on the Dallas Bar Association's Intellectual Property Section Board before moving to Denver. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Colorado and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas, the District of Colorado, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. James has been a pioneer in the budding space of cannabis IP law and brings incredible depth of expertise, based on first-hand experience, to our conversation.
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To help make sense of all of this and so that your IP rights don’t just go up in smoke, James and the panel discuss:

• Cannabis at the molecular level, specifically THC and CBD, and how the subtle differences underscore the complexity of cannabis legality.
• The present legal framework around cannabis and the challenges that come via a patchwork of conflicting state and federal laws.
• Cannabis IP issues surrounding obtaining and asserting both patents and trademarks, including insights from the cases James has personally litigated. 
• And patent prosecution strategies to help ensure your rights are enforceable in a federal court.

​James leads this blunt conversation with our always exceptional group of IP experts, including:

• Dr. Ashley Sloat, President and Director of Patent Strategy at Aurora
• Dr. David Jackrel, President of Jackrel Consulting
• Kristen Hansen, Patent Strategy Specialist at Aurora
• Marie Smyth, Patent Agent at Brake Hughes Bellermann LLP

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In this month's Mossoff Minute, Professor Adam Mossoff discusses six new anti-patent bills that the Senate Judiciary Committee recently advanced, despite being backed by bogus data. ​We’re also publishing excerpts as short-form videos on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.
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​Patently Strategic is available on all major podcasting directories, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We're also available on 12 other directories including Stitcher, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn, so you should be able to find us wherever you listen to podcasts.
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By: Josh Sloat

We're honored to announce that we've been invited to speak next week at the FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston, TX! This massive event is the world championship for elementary to high school-aged youth engaged in competitive robotics. The program and domain are near and dear to us, so we couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of it. Dr. Ashley Sloat worked closely with her son's FIRST team to help their young inventors develop patent rights via a provisional patent application for their State Championship qualifying Innovation Project. We're now looking forward to sharing insights gained with the rest of the FIRST Robotics world!
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Learn about the power of patents and how you can incorporate patenting into your FIRST Robotics programs, from FLL to FRC. For LEGO League Teams, pursuing a provisional patent can be a great addition to your Innovation Project. For all ages, learning about the patent process at a young age is a massive head start for those heading into STEM careers. We'll even be exploring success stories from FIRST teams that used IP to commercialize their innovations! Learn from an IP professional who’s guided everyone from inexperienced elementary teams to seasoned pros through the empowering process of patenting!

Session Number: 134
Date of Session: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time of Session: 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Room Location: 350DEF
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Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit organization that prepares the world's youth for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18.

Hosted by FIRST, the 2025 FIRST Championship is a culminating, international event for its youth robotics competition season and an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for the FIRST community as we prepare young people for the future.

The 2025 FIRST Championship takes place April 16-19 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. 
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In addition to our mission of promoting innovation by helping inventors secure high-quality patent rights, we're also proud mentors and sponsors of First LEGO League (FLL) Team #64530 from Traverse City, Michigan. The Bricks (4) Brains team is made up of inspiring young elementary students who've already filed for their first patent and are diligently working their way toward earning a place at this incredible international competition.
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