Adam R. Weeks
03 - 07 May 2026
Optica Global Headquarters
Washington,
Events
Adam R. Weeks
Senior Managing Counsel, Corning, USA
Patents and Intellectual Property 101
Technology companies and institutions at all stages face a variety of intellectual property issues. Addressing these issues well can significantly increase value for the intellectual property owner, while missteps can have the opposite result. We will introduce important forms of intellectual property, including patents, trade secrets, and trademarks, and discuss the role each plays in an intellectual property portfolio.
About the Speaker
Adam R. Weeks is a Senior Managing Counsel for Corning’s Optical Communications business segment, where he leads intellectual property strategies supporting data center connectivity and advanced cable assembly technologies. A registered U.S. Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney, Adam works at the intersection of engineering, business strategy, and law to help translate technical innovation into durable competitive advantage.
Over more than a decade at Corning, Adam has guided global patent portfolios, partnered closely with product development teams, and played a key role in high‑stakes IP enforcement and licensing efforts. He previously served as IP Counsel at Vestas Wind Systems A/S in Denmark, advising multinational R&D teams on IP risk management and innovation processes, and earlier in his career practiced at an intellectual property boutique law firm.
Adam holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
