Chicago Debate Showcase
Joshua D.Sarnoff
Raymond P. Niro Professor of Intellectual Property Law
DePaul University College of Law
Joshua D. Sarnoff studies how intellectual property law shapes invention, innovation, and the public interest.

Biography
Joshua
- Intellectual property
- Innovation policy
- Patent law
Joshua D. Sarnoff is the Raymond P. Niro Professor of Intellectual Property Law at DePaul University College of Law. His research and teaching connect intellectual property with environmental and health law, constitutional and administrative law, and competition policy.
He served as a Thomas A. Edison Distinguished Scholar at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from 2014 to 2015 and advised the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool from 2021 to 2023. A registered patent attorney, he has testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Intellectual Property Subcommittee and contributed amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and Federal Circuit.
Upcoming appearance
Chicago Debate Showcase
WhenWednesday, October 21, 2026
WhereThe Ferris, 1 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL
Doors5:30 p.m. Chicago time
Confirmed debate. AI, authorship, and inventorship
Resolved: When AI contributes creativity equivalent to that of a joint author or joint inventor, the resulting work or invention should not receive patent or copyright protection.

Until doors open.
See the ideas meet the room.
Join Joshua D. Sarnoff at the Chicago Debate Showcase for live debate, audience questions, and conversation at The Ferris.
Tickets from $30.
DePaul faculty profile (opens in a new tab)