7735. Patent Law, Adv: Practice and Procedure

This seminar explores advanced topics in patent law, practice and procedure, from the conception, disclosure, claim drafting, and prosecution of a patent, to patent licensing, opinion drafting, and litigation. Other potential topics include patentability, clearance search strategies, Patent Cooperation Treaty procedures, and foreign filling considerations. Principles introduced in Patent Law (which is a prerequisite for the seminar) are examined in greater depth through simulated interviews and studies of actual prosecution case files from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Students are exposed to the complex interplay of the statute, regulations, Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP), and case law, and learn how to integrate these sources in actual patent practice. Assessment is based on a research paper and optional class presentation. Prerequisite: Patent Law (LAW 716).