Legal Intern, Maria Autuori gave insight into Prevayl internships and view on women pursuing a career in Intelectual Property.

Tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to go into the field of IP?

I started my Intellectual Property journey at Queen Mary’s University last September, which led me to this interesting and challenging internship.

After finishing high school, I was a bit uncertain about my future as I still thought I wanted to pursue an acting career. So, I decided to enroll in law school in my hometown whilst simultaneously moving to Rome and attending an acting school.

During my Erasmus, I discovered an interest in Intellectual Property by looking at one of the most interesting cases of the Disney infringement claims. Being so close to the world of acting and art myself, I realised I could combine my two interests by entering the entertainment sector from a legal perspective.

Subsequently, I applied for an IP program at Queen Mary’s University and I was accepted.

What was it about Prevayl® that intrigued you? 

When I first heard of Prevayl, I was not only fascinated by the young and well-prepared staff but also the product Prevayl offers its audience.

From the perspective of an IP student, Prevayl encompasses all the main subjects studied in an IP course and so I couldn’t have found a better team to work with.

What have you learned in your time so far at Prevayl and being part of the IP team?

So far I have been dealing with many issues, from the Prevayl trademark portfolio, the patent process, and also the issues related to unregistered designs following Brexit. 

You started interning remotely, how did you find this? 

The Prevayl team allowed me to feel immediately comfortable and welcome, despite the distance between us. From the very first moment at Prevayl, I felt like part of the family.

What do you believe can be done to get more women into a career within IP?

One of the aspects that most impressed me about Prevayl was the policy of inclusion and support of female talent, I believe that the IP world and more widely, the tech world, needs more women.

To do this, it’s important to break down the bias that scientific subjects are for men and humanities are for women. We need more female scientists now, in order to inspire the women of tomorrow.

The world of innovation needs the brilliance, courage, and curiosity of women and I hope to be a part of this change.