LAW 7042 :
Patent Law

Prerequisite: Intellectual Property (LAW 7048) Note: You do not need a science/engineering degree to take this class. Some of the best grades in this class have been earned by students without such degrees. This course is designed to provide students with the fundamentals of patent law including an overview of the United States patent system, the requirements for obtaining a valid United States patent, ownership and allocation of patent rights, infringement of patents, and remedies for patent infringement. A fundamental understanding of patent law is an invaluable tool for any attorney aspiring to litigate patent infringement issues. The course will enable the student to identify patentable subject matter such as business methods and to understand concepts such as novelty and nonobviousness as prerequisites for patentability. The fundamentals of the administrative process for acquiring patent rights will be examined along with the process for correcting, reissuing and reexamination of issued patents. The student will learn the scope and content of patent rights as well as how such rights are exploited and enforced. A technical background is not required for this course since the emphasis is on understanding the United States patent law and how it is applied by the courts - not the technical subject matter which is protectable by the law.The course will be graded based upon a final take-home examination. Exam Info: Take-Home Exam