A Primer on Intellectual Property - Patents

8/3/2019 A Primer on Intellectual Property - Patents

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29 March 2011Queen Lake Consulting1

Explosion containment net

About patents

In practice

The law

Recent case law

The registration process

Weird patents

Questions


Prior art

Usefulness Novelty

Nonobviousness

26 February 2011A Primer on Intellectual Property3
http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=y9MTAAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=y9MTAAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=y9MTAAAAEBAJ


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www.uspto.gov


Definition

Why Patent?

Why not patent?



Black's Law dictionary has more than seven pages ofdefinitions regarding patents and patent-related topics.patent The right to exclude others from making, using, marketing, selling,offering for sale, or importing an invention for a specified period (20 yearsfrom the date of filing), granted by the federal government to the inventor ifthe device or process is novel, useful, and nonobvious.35 USCA 101103.
http://www.uspto.gov/http://www.uspto.gov/http://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS103&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS103&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS103&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.westlaw.com/Find/Default.wl?rs=CAMP1.0&vr=2.0&DB=1000546&DocName=35USCAS101&FindType=Lhttp://www.uspto.gov/


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The invention must be one of the patentablesubjects as specified in the law:

A utility patent describes how a thing works A design patent describes how a thing looks

A plant patents describes a new, asexuallyreproducing plant, other than one found in the wild

It must be useful.

It must be novel.

It must be nonobvious.


It has to work You cant obtain a patent for a perpetual motion

machine.

It has to be for a legal purpose You cant patent a machine thats intended to

deceive.

It doesnt have to be saleable


Fresh-air breathing device and method -

US Patent 4,320,756

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=J040AAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=J040AAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=J040AAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=J040AAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=J040AAAAEBAJhttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=J040AAAAEBAJ


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You cant patent an invention that

Has been known and used by others 102(a)

Is in use or on sale 102(b) Has been abandoned: 102(c)

Is the subject of a foreign patent 102(d)

Has been described in another patent orapplication 102(e)

Wasnt invented by the inventor102(f)

Was first invented by someone 102(g)


Even if its useful and novel, if a smart personcould have or should have already thought ofit. 103(a) Patentability shall not be negatived by themanner in which the invention was made.

Changing a type material used in a deviceJeffersons comment on chain, rope, or leather

If multiple people created the sameinvention at the same time Telephone

Internet packet-switching


To obtain exclusive rights to your invention

To recoup research and development costs To attract investors

Patents are often about business, rather thaninvention.

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jefl220.htmhttp://www.let.rug.nl/usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jefl220.htm


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Trade Secrets

Why didn't we patent the spreadsheet? Were

we stupid? Because you believe that patents are evil



A History of the Patent Law of the United States

Constitution First U.S. Patent issued on July 31, 1790 Samuel Hopkins

was issued the first patent for a process of makingpotash, an ingredient used in fertilizer. The patent wassigned by President George Washington

1830sexpansion to include aliens, add clarity onnovelty, and use prior to filing

1842design patents permitted

1930first plant patent

1998business methods

Current patent law: 35 U.S.C

http://www.bricklin.com/patenting.htmhttp://www.bricklin.com/patenting.htmhttp://www.ladas.com/Patents/USPatentHistory.htmlhttp://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2001/01-33.jsphttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/usc.cgi?ACTION=BROWSE&title=35uschttp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/usc.cgi?ACTION=BROWSE&title=35uschttp://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2001/01-33.jsphttp://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2001/01-33.jsphttp://www.ladas.com/Patents/USPatentHistory.htmlhttp://www.ladas.com/Patents/USPatentHistory.htmlhttp://www.ladas.com/Patents/USPatentHistory.htmlhttp://www.bricklin.com/patenting.htmhttp://www.bricklin.com/patenting.htm


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Graham v. John Deere Co. 383 U.S. 1 (1966)Clarifying the nonobviousness clause

Gottschalk v. Benson (S. Ct. 1972)Disallows software patents

Diamond v. Diehr(S. Ct. 1981)Allowed a patent, even though a computer programwas involved

State Street Bank & Trust Co. v. SignatureFinancial Group, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 1998)Established that software is patentable, even thoughthere is no machine transformation


The case Bilski v. Kappos (S. Ct. 2010) Whether a particular patent for a business process was

valid.

CFC said that it was not.

The decision The Court decided that the patent in this case was

invalid because Bilski sought to patent an abstract idea

The Court did not rule that all business process patentswere invalid. (The four-justice minority held this postion.)

Columbia Law School professor Eben Moglen - [The Supreme Court said] we all agree this is a crappy patent

that can't issue but we don't agree about why. More ...


Kodak Wins a Round in $1 Billion Apple, RIM

Patent DisputeBloomberg Anticipated yet Nonobvious

Cohesive Technologies Inc. v. WatersCorporation (Fed. Cir. 2008)

http://oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1965/1965_11http://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/State_Street_Bank.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/State_Street_Bank.htmlhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-964.pdfhttp://thepriorart.typepad.com/the_prior_art/2010/08/eben-moglen-on-bilski-software-patents-and-big-pharma.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2008/10/nonobvious-yet.htmlhttp://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2008/10/nonobvious-yet.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-25/kodak-wins-round-in-1-billion-patent-case-against-apple-rim.htmlhttp://thepriorart.typepad.com/the_prior_art/2010/08/eben-moglen-on-bilski-software-patents-and-big-pharma.htmlhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-964.pdfhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-964.pdfhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-964.pdfhttp://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-964.pdfhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/State_Street_Bank.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/State_Street_Bank.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/State_Street_Bank.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://www.bitlaw.com/source/cases/patent/Diamond_v_Diehr.htmlhttp://oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1965/1965_11


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Obtaining and preserving a patent


Inventing something

Deciding to patent your invention

Applying for your patent What to do while waiting?

Revising your application

Using your patent Marking your product [note new case law]

Licensing your patent

Selling your patent

Protecting your patent


U.S. Patent 4,656,917

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=-QgyAAAAEBAJ&dq=4,656,917http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=-QgyAAAAEBAJ&dq=4,656,917


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Process for Obtaining a Uti lity Patent

How it works

Note: pending legislation may change first-to-inventto first-to-file

How much does it cost? How much do you have?

How long does it take? Average is 22 months


In summary: ~$3500-$4500basic utility patent

~$5000-$7000computer and electronics

Current Fee Schedule $220-$330 for basic filing

Additional fees for searches

Additional fees for attorneys


Applying it to your product

Note: recent court decision on patentmarking

Licensing your patent

Selling your patent

http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/index.jsphttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2009september15.htmhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2009september15.htmhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2009september15.htmhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2009september15.htmhttp://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/index.jsp


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Follow new patent filings

Follow products in your market area

Watch court decisions CAFC

Federal District courts

State course (contracts and licensing)


Someone uses your patent without yourpermission

Someone uses an idea very similar to yours

Software patents can also be covered undercopyright law


Just because its patented doesnt

mean that its a good idea.

http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/


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U.S. Patent 6,360,693


U.S. Patent 6,805,607


U.S. Patent 6,783,822

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=hhYJAAAAEBAJ&dq=6,360,693http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=zH4QAAAAEBAJ&dq=6805607http://www.patentlysilly.com/patent.php?patID=6783822http://www.patentlysilly.com/patent.php?patID=6783822http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=zH4QAAAAEBAJ&dq=6805607http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=hhYJAAAAEBAJ&dq=6,360,693http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=hhYJAAAAEBAJ&dq=6,360,693


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Patently Silly :: Archives



OK

The course so far

The course ahead

http://www.patentlysilly.com/archives.phphttp://www.patentlysilly.com/archives.php


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An overview of intellectual property

The history of the laws

Copyrights Trademarks

Patents


Putting these principles into practice Contracts

Licensing

End-user License Agreement

Open source changes the game

Everything digital



Run away

A Primer on Intellectual Property - Patents

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Transcript of A Primer on Intellectual Property - Patents