Patent Practice and Procedure

This course bridges the gap between the Law School’s doctrinal courses examining patent law (Patent Law -Law 639, and Survey of Intellectual Property – Law 603) and the ways in which patent attorneys actually use patent law in practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). For students interested in patent prosecution, the course will provide insight into a unique sub-discipline of intellectual property, which combines analysis of the Patent Act, Federal Circuit and Supreme Court decisions, the rules of the USPTO, and customary practice. Drafting of patent claims and structuring of arguments in response to USPTO office actions, two vital skills for specialists in this area, are significant components of the course. As the meaning of patent claims and the interpretation of arguments made during prosecution can be outcome-determinative in patent lawsuits, students interested in patent litigation will find the course valuable as well.