This course will present a detailed study of patent law. Salient topics will include:
1. Patentable subject matter;
2. Constitutional basis and history of patent law;
3. Relevant comparisons between patents and other forms of intellectual property such as copyright, trademark, and trade secret;
4. Patentability standards;
5. Types of patents available, including apparatuses, processes, compositions of matter, computer software, business methods and Internet;
6. Patent Infringement and remedies, including money damages (profit and/or reasonable royalty) and injunctions; and
7. Introduction to patent claim drafting and patent prosecution.
A case study book may be required. A detailed syllabus will be provided on the first class meeting. Lecture notes and/or copies of required cases and/or statutory provisions to be brought to class will be provided in advance. The class will be conducted as a combination of lectures and case discussions. The latter method will be emphasized during the case study section of the course, especially when covering litigation and remedies.
This course is intended as an introductory course for those who are considering making a career in patent law, and for those who are generally interested in intellectual property law. As some students may already know, in order to sit for the Patent Bar Exam and become a Registered Patent Attorney, the applicant must have an undergraduate degree in a technical field or a certain number of undergraduate hours in selected technical areas. This course will not assume that the student has technical training in any particular area, but some classroom discussion topics will necessarily draw upon a basic math and science background.