Patent Law and Policy

Description:

This course addresses the basics of obtaining and enforcing U.S. patent protection for useful inventions. We consider how the patent laws foster innovation through the grant of exclusionary rights to inventors by undertaking a detailed examination of both the substantive requirements for patentability (utility, novelty, and nonobviousness) and the requirements defining an adequate disclosure of the invention (written description, enablement, and best mode). We also explore the complementary implementation roles played by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, on the one hand, and the federal courts (especially the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) on the other. Evaluation will be by traditional exam or by a semester-long writing project, as decided by Prof. Miller during the first week of class.

A technical proficiency in science or engineering is neither required nor favored.

Prerequisite: Intellectual Property Law Survey