Writing Chemistry Patents and Intellectual Property
A Practical Guide
1. Edition September 2011
256 Pages, Hardcover
Practical Approach Book
Short Description
Based on a short course the author gives for the American Chemical Society, the book provides the necessary insights, strategies, and examples on how to write a patent so it is not rejected by the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) or does not have invalid claims. With examples from issued patents, the book guides inventors through the writing process, helping them understand the basic steps for drafting and prosecuting a patent application. An essential resource for chemists, chemical engineers, scientists, researchers in industry, government and start-up companies, independent inventors, and patent attorneys.
Understanding intellectual property, safeguarding your ideas
Intellectual property is constantly at risk, and the protection of chemical science and technology through the patenting process allows individuals and companies to protect their hard work. But in order to truly be able to protect your ideas, you need to understand the basics of patenting for yourself.
A practical handbook designed to empower inventors like you to write your own patent application drafts in conjunction with an attorney, Writing Chemistry Patents and Intellectual Property: A Practical Guide presents a brand new methodology for success.
Based on a short course author Francis J. Waller gives for the American Chemical Society, the book teaches you how to structure a literature search, to educate the patent examiner on your work, to prepare an application that can be easily duplicated, and to understand what goes on behind the scenes during the patent examiner's rejection process.
Providing essential insights, invaluable strategies, and applicable, real-world examples designed to maximize the chances that a patent will be accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Writing Chemistry Patents and Intellectual Property is the book you need if you want to keep your work protected.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii
1. BACKGROUND AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 1
Chapter Objective / 1
Introduction / 1
Book Strategy for Patents / 6
A Brief History of Patenting / 7
Intellectual Property: Is It Important or Not? / 8
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce / 9
Why Intellectual Property Protection Is Currently Important / 13
Information Overload and Prior Art / 15
China as an Emerging Intellectual Powerhouse / 18
Patents as Sources of Technology / 19
Patents in Force Worldwide / 20
Chapter Summary / 20
Additional Reading / 20
Question / 21
2. BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO VOCABULARY AND DEFINITIONS 22
Chapter Objective / 22
Introduction / 22
Short Story from Panama / 23
Patent Terminology / 24
Trade Secret Definition / 30
Copyright / 31
Trademark Definition / 32
Chapter Summary / 33
Additional Reading / 33
Questions / 34
3. YOUR FIRST DECISION: TRADE SECRET OR PATENT? 35
Chapter Objective / 35
Introduction / 35
Trade Secret / 36
Patent / 39
Comparison between a Trade Secret and a Patent / 40
Chapter Summary / 41
Additional Reading / 41
Question / 42
4. WHAT COMES FIRST: A PROVISIONAL OR NONPROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION? 43
Chapter Objective / 43
Introduction / 43
Provisional Patent Application / 45
Nonprovisional Patent Application / 48
Patent Application Comparison / 49
Chapter Summary / 50
Additional Reading / 50
Question / 50
5. REASONS FOR PATENT OFFICE REJECTIONS 51
Chapter Objective / 51
Introduction / 51
Patentable Invention and Its Usefulness / 52
Novelty / 53
Nonobviousness / 54
Other Reasons for a Rejection / 56
Chapter Summary / 57
Additional Reading / 57
Question / 58
6. REASONS FOR INVALID PATENTS 59
Chapter Objective / 59
Introduction / 59
Experiments: Actual or by Insight / 60
Prior Art Disclosure / 60
Issued Patent Is Invalid / 61
Inequitable Conduct / 62
Other Considerations When Writing Your First Patent Application / 62
Another Point of View / 63
Chapter Summary / 63
Additional Reading / 64
Question / 64
7. EXAMPLES OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS 65
Chapter Objective / 65
Introduction / 65
Key to Patenting Success / 66
Why Understanding Patents Is Important / 66
Typical Pathway for Patent Application within a Company / 67
Claim 1 and 2 of U.S. Patent 5,247,190 / 68
Examination of U.S. Patent 5,872,289 / 71
Format for Patent with Federal Support / 76
Examination of U.S. Patent 6,369,239 / 77
Examination of U.S. 2004/0010115A1 / 79
Examination of U.S. Patent 7,071,289 / 81
Examination of U.S. Patent 5,273,995 / 82
Examination of U.S. Patent 7,253,209 / 83
Comparing Claim Language with Written Description of Invention / 85
Chapter Summary / 87
Additional Reading / 88
Questions / 88
8. WRITING THE PATENT APPLICATION 89
Chapter Objective / 89
Introduction / 89
The Inventive Process / 90
Summary of Our Understanding for Patents and Trade Secrets / 92
Identifying a Problem to Be Solved / 93
Methodology to Solve a Complex Problem / 97
Possible Inventions from Our Everyday Reading / 101
Patentability Requirements / 102
Circumventing the Rules of Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution / 103
Water Splitting via Ruthenium Complex / 105
Detecting Mechanical Stress within a Polymer / 108
Places to Find Future Problems / 110
Controlling Molecular Size of Semiconductor Quantum Dots / 111
Chapter Summary / 113
Additional Reading / 113
Question / 114
9. AN EXAMINATION OF CLAIM FORMAT 115
Chapter Objective / 115
Introduction / 115
Interpretation of Claims / 116
General Background about Claim Language / 118
More Definition about Claims / 119
Specific Claim Language / 120
Chapter Summary / 123
10. WHY YOU NEED CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS 124
Chapter Objective / 124
Introduction / 124
Confidentiality Agreements in General / 125
Important Elements within a Confidentiality Agreement / 125
Chapter Summary / 127
Question / 127
11. PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS 128
Chapter Objective / 128
Introduction / 128
Copyright / 129
Copyright Interpretation / 131
Adjunct Professor Appointments and the Copyright / 133
Filing for a Copyright / 136
Trademarks / 137
Chapter Summary / 139
Question / 140
12. GLOBAL PATENT FILING AND PATENTING STRATEGY 141
Chapter Objective / 141
Introduction / 141
Developing a Patent Strategy / 142
International Patent Filing / 143
Filing Options / 145
Chapter Summary / 146
Questions / 147
13. WHAT ACADEMIC SCIENCE FACULTY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS 148
Chapter Objective / 148
Introduction / 148
Recent Background / 149
What Should You Do after Having a Novel Concept? / 150
Notebooks / 151
Invention Disclosure / 152
Confi dentiality Agreements / 153
Copyrights / 153
Chapter Summary / 154
Additional Reading / 154
Questions / 154
14. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RESOURCES 155
Chapter Objective / 155
Introduction / 155
Brief Summary of Selected Intellectual Property Books / 156
Intellectual Property Courses / 162
Worldwide Patent Offices / 163
Emerging Technology Fields / 163
Useful Organization / 164
Chapter Summary / 165
Additional Reading / 165
15. BOOK SUMMARY AND ON YOUR OWN 166
Chapter Objective / 166
Introduction / 166
Pending Intellectual Property Developments / 167
Summary of Previous Chapters / 167
Responsibilities of the Inventor / 168
Conclusions / 169
Chapter Summary / 170
Additional Reading / 170
16. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS AT END OF CHAPTERS 171
Chapter Objective / 171
Chapter 1 / 171
Chapter 2 / 172
Chapter 3 / 173
Chapter 4 / 173
Chapter 5 / 174
Chapter 6 / 176
Chapter 7 / 177
Chapter 8 / 178
Chapter 10 / 178
Chapter 11 / 179
Chapter 12 / 179
Chapter 13 / 180
17. PATENT APPENDIX 181
Chapter Objective / 181
Useful Information Besides the Invention / 181
Chapter Summary / 184
U.S. Patent 5,872,289 / 185
U.S. Patent 6,369,239 / 194
U.S. Published Patent Application 2004/0010115A1 / 198
U.S. Patent 7,071,289 with Certificate of Correction / 207
U.S. Patent 5,273,995 / 219
U.S. Patent 7,253,209 / 229
INDEX 236
