Introduction to Patent Law

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Introduction to Patent Law

• Class Notes January 14, 2003
• Law 677 Patent Law Spring 2003
• Professor Wagner

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Todays Agenda

1. Administration Course Information
2. The History of the U.S. Patent System
3. Patent Structure What is a Patent?
4. Basics of Patent Prosecution

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Course Administration

• Course web site patents.pennlaw.net/sp2003/
• Assignments
• Readings
• Casebook, Supplement (downloadable)
• Relatively Heavy 30-50 pp. per class
• All students on call each day (mostly
  volunteers)
• Commentary Posts (CPs)
• Short essays on topic-of-the-day
• See web site for more details, examples, etc.
• Key dont forget

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Course Administration (ii)

• Bulletin Board
• http//bulletin.law.upenn.edu/ (also linked from
  web site)
• Use it to post CPs also for questions and
  discussion
• Check-in by Thursdays class
• Grading Scheme
• Final Exam 60
• Multiple choice, true-false (long fact patterns)
• Commentary posts 25 (two during the term)
• Course participation 15 (includes bulletin
  board)

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Course Administration (iii)

• Class Notes
• Typically available before class (PDF)
• Class Audio
• All classes recorded, linked to web site (MP3s)
• Important use the microphones to talk
• Contacting me
• Email is best pwagner_at_law.upenn.edu
• Office T-333 (Library), 215.898.4356
• Hours Wednesday, Friday - 1030-1130 AM
• Generally available Tuesday-Friday 930 to 530
  (or by appointment)
• No food in classroom (drinks fine)

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History of the US Patent System

• Article I, 8, cl. 8
• to promote the Progress of Science and useful
  Arts by securing for limited Times to Authors and
  Inventors the exclusive right to their respective
  Writings and Discoveries.
• Patent Statute
• 35 U.S.C. et seq.
• Since 1790
• Most recently new in 1952 (The 52 Act)

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History of the US Patent System

• Structure of the Patent System
• Prosecution Phase (also Examination)
• Administrative Agency (USPTO)
• End an Issued Patent
• Enforcement Phase
• Private actions (civil suits, enforced by
  patentees)
• Litigation under federal law
• Where? 28 U.S.C. 1338 (p. 28) 28 U.S.C.
  1295 (p. 26)
• The Federal Circuit

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The Structure of Patents

• US Patent No. 6,203,230
• Specification
• Front page
• Abstract
• Written Description
• Description of Technical Field
• Background of the Invention
• Summary of the Invention
• Detailed Description of the Invention
• Drawings
• Claims

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Patent Prosecution Basics
The Life of a Patent
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Patent Prosecution Basics

• Key Points about Prosecution
• Ex parte process
• Private/secret (for 24 months)
• Procedures allow continuing applications
• Around 90 of all applications eventually result
  in a patent
• Internal procedural incentives to issue patents
• Two-stage appeals
• Board Patent Appeals and Interferences (Board)
• Federal Circuit (also District DC Fed. Cir.)
• Reexamination (ex parte, inter-partes)

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• Next Class
• Patent Economics I
• The Basis of Patent Law