Applying Intellectual Property Law to a Family Business
At the core of Villanova Law鈥檚 legal education is its Where Law Meets Business approach鈥攊nfusing vital business principles, professional skills, ethical training and practical experiences into coursework. Some Villanova Law students arrive at law school with real-world experiences that make the business-focused legal education an immediate and applicable benefit. Joseph Diorio 鈥�20 is one such student. Diorio works for his family-run start-up, in addition to balancing the work of a full-time student in Villanova Law鈥檚 Intellectual Property (IP) concentration.
KoffieStraw is a reusable silicone straw created for on-the-go beverages, like coffee or water. The idea was developed by Diorio鈥檚 mother, who wanted to create a straw without the toxins and wastefulness of plastic straws. With an undergraduate degree in engineering, Diorio designed the straw, while his cousin helped manufacture the product.
As the business grew and trademark and patent applications were filed, Diorio knew his business background could be greatly enhanced with a legal education and a concentration in intellectual property law. In his Copyright Law and Contract Law classes, he learned some 鈥渢ricks of the trade鈥濃�攑ractices that have helped him in running KoffieStraw.
鈥淧rofessors might mention something basic but essential, like the do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s of drafting a contract, and I can relate it back to the business,鈥� Diorio said. 鈥淚t really helps to have that grounding in a real-world example when I鈥檓 learning the different aspects of intellectual property law.鈥�
In addition to working for KoffieStraw, Diorio has completed an externship with the District Court of Delaware under Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke, which gave him insight into litigation while he sat in on IP suits and hearings. Coming up, he has a summer associate position scheduled with The Belles Group, P.C. in Philadelphia, a boutique law firm specializing in the representation of companies in all aspects of intellectual property procurement, management and monetization.
鈥淢y law school experience has been a great one,鈥� remarked Diorio. 鈥淚鈥檝e built a lot of relationships with classmates and professors, which has helped me grow professionally and will greatly impact the work I do with KoffieStraw. Being able to learn about law and apply it to real world settings has been instrumental in my growth as a student and entrepreneur.鈥�
