BYLAWS

 

OF THE CHICAGO-KENT COLLEGE OF LAW

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW SOCIETY

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Chicago-Kent Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) is a student-run organization having its principal place of business at the main campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Law.

 

IPLS is committed to improving student education and awareness in the field of Intellectual Property (IP), emphasizing patent law, copyright law, and trademark law.  IPLS educates students in the legal, ethical, technological, political, and sociological perspectives of Intellectual Property.  IPLS supports the advancement of humankind in the arts and sciences.

 

To accomplish these goals, IPLS conducts student activities, in coordination with the director and faculty of the Chicago-Kent Program in Intellectual Property.  IPLS works with, and complements, the Program to ensure that students receive a quality education in the field of IP.  IPLS also maintains a database of course outlines, to assist students in their study of the law.  IPLS ensures that the database contains only the very best outlines, as part of a commitment to excellence in education.

 

 

 

CONVENTION

 

These Bylaws derive their authority from the IPLS Constitution, which is incorporated by reference.  Articles and sections of the Bylaws are numbered to correspond to the sections within the Constitution from which they draw their power or effect.

 

 

ARTICLE I – BYLAWS

 

Section 1.1.  Procedure to enact, amend, and repeal Bylaws.

 

            Any Officer or Voting Member may propose:

 

·        to enact a new Bylaw;

·        to amend an existing Bylaw; or

·        to repeal an existing Bylaw.

 

A proposal to change the Bylaws shall be brought to the attention of the Executive Board as soon as is practicable.  If the change would be allowed under the Constitution, the Board will submit the proposal to the Voting Members.  The proposal will be adopted upon a majority vote of all of the Voting Members.

 

Section 1.1.1.  Exceptions.

 

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, changes to this Article I shall be made only upon a three fourths vote of all of the Voting Members.

 

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, consistent with Article IV section 2 of the Constitution, amendments to Article IV of these Bylaws conforming to changes in the name or position of the Arbitrator shall be made by the President and Secretary upon due notice to the Executive Board, without requiring a vote by the Voting Members.

 

 

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 2.1.  Qualification for Membership.

 

Any student in good academic standing at Chicago-Kent may become a Member of the Society.  A student who has not received grades from Chicago-Kent is considered to be in good academic standing for the purposes of this Section.  A Member who falls out of good academic standing shall not cease to be a Member due to the loss of standing.

 

            A student shall no longer be qualified for Membership if he or she:

·        graduates;

·        transfers to another law school; or

·        takes a leave of absence, whether permanent or temporary.

 

Section 2.2.  Membership classes and dues.

 

Section 2.2.1.  Classes of Membership.

 

            The classes of Members and their privileges are as follows:

 

Section 2.2.1.1.  Full (Voting) Members

 

Full Members are entitled to

·        receive all IPLS communications;

·        attend all IPLS events;

·        vote to approve or disapprove of Executive Board members;

·        vote to enact, amend, or repeal Bylaws; and

·        propose and vote on amendments to the Constitution.

 

Section 2.2.1.2.  Social Members

 

Social Members are entitled to

·        receive all IPLS communications; and

·        attend IPLS events generally open to the public.

 

Section 2.2.2.  Membership dues.

 

            Membership dues are $10.00, once per academic year, and shall be applied to the academic year in which they are paid.

 

 

Section 2.3.  Admission and removal of Members.

 

Section 2.3.1.  Admission of Members.

 

            The procedures for admitting Social Members shall be at the discretion of the Secretary, provided that in no event shall a Social Member be required to pay Membership dues.

 

            The procedures for admitting Full Members shall be at the discretion of the Secretary and the Treasurer, provided that no student may become a Full Member until he or she submits an application to the Secretary’s satisfaction and pays Membership dues to the Treasurer in accordance with these Bylaws.

 

Section 2.3.2.  Removal of Members.

 

            A Member shall be removed from Membership only upon the following events:

·        loss of qualification for Membership, in accordance with this Article II;

·        the Member requests to be removed; or

·        for cause.

 

A Social Member who requests to be removed from IPLS communications will be considered to have requested removal from IPLS.

 

A Member shall be removed for cause only upon a unanimous vote of the Board.

 

 

ARTICLE III – EXECUTIVE

 

Section 3.1.  Other Officers.

 

            The IPLS shall have a Webmaster, who shall be an Officer and member of the Executive Board.

 

Section 3.2.  Duties of the Officers.

 

            The President shall:

·        Oversee all programs, functions, and events of IPLS.

·        Liaise with the Chicago-Kent faculty and administration.

·        Supervise the other Officers in the performance of their duties.

·        Call meetings of the Executive Board or Members.

·        Recommend policies to the Executive Board.

 

The Secretary shall:

·        Coordinate the internal affairs of IPLS.

·        Maintain the Membership rolls.

·        Make preparations for meetings.

·        Take notes at meetings, including the recording of votes.

·        Publish decisions of the Executive Board.

 

The Treasurer shall:

·        Manage the finances of IPLS.

·        Collect dues.

·        Notify the Secretary when a Member has paid dues.

·        Disperse monies in a timely manner.

·        Aid in the financial aspects of all IPLS events.

 

The Day Vice President shall:

·        Advocate for the interests of Day Division students at Board meetings.

·        Attract Day Division students to IPLS.

·        Promote participation in IPLS events and programs.

 

The Evening Vice President shall:

·        Advocate for the interests of Evening Division students at Board meetings.

·        Attract Evening Division students to IPLS.

·        Promote participation in IPLS events and programs.

 

The Webmaster shall:

·        Maintain an IPLS website.

·        Advertise IPLS functions to the student body.

 

 

Section 3.3.  SBA duties.

 

The President shall:

·        Attend any SBA meeting at which student organizations are represented.

·        Advocate for IPLS to SBA officers.

·        Prepare a budget for each semester with the Treasurer.

 

The Treasurer shall:

·        Read and understand the Chicago-Kent SBA Financial Code.

·        Prepare a budget for each semester with the President.

·        Submit reimbursement requests to the SBA as directed by the President.

 

Section 3.4.  Removal of Officers.

 

            Any Officer may be removed upon a two thirds vote of the Voting Members, but only upon a finding by the Executive Board of substantial misconduct.  For purposes of conducting a removal vote, the Voting Members must convene in a closed meeting.  The vote will be by secret ballot.

 

Section 3.5.  Succession.

 

            If the Webmaster dies, resigns, or is removed, the duties of the Webmaster shall be performed by the Secretary.

 

 

ARTICLE IV – DISPUTES

 

Section 4.1.  Arbitrator.

 

The Arbitrator shall be the Director of the Program in Intellectual Property.

 

Section 4.1.1.  Current Arbitrator.

 

            The current Arbitrator is Professor Graeme Dinwoodie.

 

Section 4.1.2.  Arbitration procedures.

 

            There currently are no special arbitration procedures.

 

Section 4.2.  Replacing the Arbitrator.

 

The Board shall choose a new Arbitrator upon the death, resignation, or retirement of the current Arbitrator.

 

The President shall submit candidate names for an interim replacement, from which the Board shall unanimously choose, in the case that:

 

• the Arbitrator resigns as IPLS Arbitrator but not as Director of the Program, or
• it appears to the President that the office of Director of the Program will remain vacant for a substantial period.

 

 

ARTICLE V – ELECTIONS

 

Section 5.1.  Election procedures.

 

The Secretary shall make an announcement of elections after Spring Break and on or before April 1 of each year.  The announcement will solicit candidates for Office, and list the requirements for each Office as specified by these Bylaws.  Each candidate will have the opportunity to state his or her qualifications for Office, subject to the Secretary’s reasonable discretion.

 

            The Secretary shall publish candidate statements to the Members on or before April 8 of each year.

 

            Procedures for collecting votes are at the Secretary’s reasonable discretion, provided that voting is concluded on or before April 15 of each year.  The President and Secretary shall tally the votes as soon after the election as is practicable.

 

            The Secretary shall publish the results of the election following its conclusion.

 

 

APPENDIX A – MEETINGS

 

Section A.1.  Executive Board meetings.

 

            Meetings of the Executive Board for official business shall be held at a time and place convenient to the Board members, but at least once per calendar month.  The President shall chair each such meeting.  Board members may declare their inability to attend a meeting, but no meeting at which official business is conducted shall be held without the knowledge of all Board members.

 

            Meetings between Officers for unofficial business may be held at any time or place.

 

            For the purposes of this Section A.1, “official business” means any business or activity of IPLS requiring the agreement of more than one Officer.

 

Section A.2.  Membership meetings.

 

            Meetings of the general Membership for official business shall be held at a time and place convenient to the Voting Members.  The President shall chair each such meeting.  Only Voting Members shall attend these meetings.

 

            Meetings of the general Membership for unofficial business shall be held at a time and place designated by the Executive Board.  Any Officer may chair such meetings. Any Member may attend these meetings.

 

            For the purposes of this Section A.2, “official business” means any business or activity of IPLS requiring consent of the Voting Members.

 

 

APPENDIX B – MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section B.1.  Summary of Officer duties.

 

The President has the following duties:

·        SBA

o       Attend any SBA meeting at which student organizations are represented.

o       Advocate for IPLS to SBA officers.

o       Prepare a budget for each semester with the Treasurer.

·        Constitution

o       Perform the duties of an absent Secretary or Treasurer.

o       Resolve disputes between Members.

o       Stay aware of situations requiring conforming Constitutional amendments.

o       Draft conforming amendments with the Secretary.

·        Bylaws

o       Oversee all programs, functions, and events of IPLS.

o       Liaise with the Chicago-Kent faculty and administration.

o       Supervise the other Officers in the performance of their duties.

o       Call meetings of the Executive Board or Members.

o       Recommend policies to the Executive Board.

o       Tally ballots with the Secretary.

 

The Secretary has the following duties:

·        Constitution

o       Conduct elections.

o       Draft conforming amendments with the President.

·        Bylaws

o       Coordinate the internal affairs of IPLS.

o       Tabulating the Membership rolls.

o       Make preparations for meetings.

o       Take notes at meetings, including the recording of votes.

o       Publish decisions of the Executive Board.

o       Conduct elections.

o       Tally ballots with the President.

 

The Treasurer has the following duties:

·        SBA

o       Read and understand the Chicago-Kent SBA Financial Code.

o       Prepare a budget for each semester with the President.

o       Submit reimbursement requests to the SBA as directed by the President.

·        Bylaws

o       Manage the finances of IPLS.

o       Collect dues.

o       Notify the Secretary when a Member has paid dues.

o       Disperse monies in a timely manner.

o       Aid in the financial aspects of all IPLS events.

 

The Day Vice President has the following duties:

·        Constitution

o       Perform the duties of an absent President or Evening Vice President.

o       Resolve disputes between Day Division Members.

·        Bylaws

o       Advocate for the interests of Day Division students at Board meetings.

o       Attract Day Division students to IPLS.

o       Promote participation in IPLS events and programs.

 

The Evening Vice President has the following duties:

·        Constitution

o       Perform the duties of an absent Day Vice President.

o       Resolve disputes between Evening Division Members.

·        Bylaws

o       Advocate for the interests of Evening Division students at Board meetings.

o       Attract Evening Division students to IPLS.

o       Promote participation in IPLS events and programs.

 

The Webmaster has the following duties:

·        Bylaws

o       Maintain an IPLS website.

o       Advertise IPLS functions to the student body.