A free session Tuesday at the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre will focus on the unique challenges and opportunities for new companies in building a strategy to protect intellectual property.

Lawyer Jim Hinton of Bereskin and Parr LLP will lead “Using Design Patents to Protect High Technology,” the latest event in the EPIC Law lunch and learn series for startups, inventors, creatives, programmers, engineers and students from any discipline.

The use of design patents or industrial design registration has been growing, particularly as they relate to high technology, software, and Graphical User Interfaces. In his law practice, Hinton uses his technical expertise as an engineer to help innovators protect their intellectual property rights.

The February 7 session runs noon to 1:30 p.m. Register on the event website.