Patent Law

Explore the basic concepts of intellectual property. The nuts and bolts of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets are explained in layman's terms. Real-life examples and "war stories" are interwoven to clarify and emphasize the hot intellectual property issues that can make or break a company's financial health.

How are inventions protected? From obtaining a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to enforcing the rights granted thereby, this course thoroughly explores aspects of the U.S. Patent System. The course places an emphasis on how rights are acquired and the scope of those protections. It will also cover recent U.S. Supreme Court and appellate level developments in the dynamic area of Patent Law, with an in-depth analysis of the requirements for patentability, validity, and enforceability of U.S. patents.

This course covers the patent process in detail and includes application, prosecution responses, and continuing applications using a practical approach. We will analyze PTO forms and particular attention will be paid to calendaring and moving the patent forward.

Do you need to assist your company with novelty or patentability searches? Are you involved in trademark selection? This course will walk you through the use of the USPTO website, Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), and other free internet resources to research patents, trademarks and copyrights. You will learn how to use the classification systems to improve your search results. Additional topics include patent family analysis, and searching for due diligence and litigation support. Students must have access to the internet outside of the classroom.

Intellectual property rights are essential to the survival of life science companies. This course presents critical information to create and maintain the proprietary position required for commercialization and life cycle management. It provides an overview of key IP law issues, including distinct nuances for the life science industry. Class participants will study criteria for identifying and patenting their technologies, issues associated with patent enforcement and litigation, as well as patent issues associated with due diligence, freedom to operate, and investment. This course also...

Gain a thorough understanding of foreign patent protection and filing strategy with a focus on PCT practice. The number of PCT Contracting States is currently 123 and growing. It includes all the industrialized countries of the world. PCT is now firmly established as the most cost-effective instrumentality for obtaining international protection and creating an international patent portfolio. A basic working knowledge of the PCT will be taught in this six-week course.

Learning to write a patent application, a complex legal document, is fundamental to securing a patent and being able to enforce your rights for years to come. This course covers the patent drafting process and includes methodology and technique used in the drafting of patent applications. We will analyze different patent drafting procedures and practice. Students will be expected to draft sample patent applications. Students are also expected to have a basic knowledge of patent law.