Patent Law and Policy

Catalog description

This course will provide comprehensive coverage of the U.S. Patent Laws for those interested in obtaining general information about patents, as well as for those interested in practicing before the Patent and Trademark Office. The course will trace an invention through the application, examination, reconsideration, re-examination and litigation processes. If time permits, there may also be coverage of international treaties that affect U.S. Patent Laws as well as some comparison of U.S. Patent Laws and the Patent Laws of select countries. There are no course prerequisites and a technical background is not required because the course primarily focuses on the Patent Act, its requirements and its jurisprudence. Thus, students need only be familiar with applying statutes and cases to a fact pattern. In lieu of an examination or a paper, up to six written projects, between 3-10 pages each (approx. 40 pages overall), will be due at the end of the semester, giving students an intensive writing experience. The professor will review drafts of some of these projects during the semester and all of the projects will be discussed in class. These projects will allow students to help solve a clients hypothetical patent problem as we work through the Patent Act and its jurisprudence. Students may also have the opportunity to engage in client interviewing and counseling in order to complete the projects. There are no prerequisites and a technical background is not required. Credit Hour : 1-3