Patent Course

Lesson 1 • What a Patent Is and Does

Defines patents as limited exclusive rights granted in exchange for public disclosure. Establishes the core bargain underlying the patent system.

Lesson 2 • Patent Rights vs. Other IP Rights

Compares patents with trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Helps students choose the right protection strategy for a given asset.

Lesson 3 • Key Players in the Patent System

Introduces inventors, assignees, patent offices, and courts as the main actors. Clarifies each party's role in obtaining and enforcing patents.

Lesson 4 • History and Purpose of Patents

Traces the origin of patent systems and the policy goals they serve. Connects historical context to modern patent practice.

Lesson 1 • Special Patentability Issues

Addresses edge cases including software, business methods, and biotechnology. Prepares students to handle patentability questions in emerging fields.

Lesson 2 • Novelty and Prior Art

Explains the novelty requirement and how prior art defeats it. Students learn to identify prior art sources and assess their relevance.

Lesson 3 • Written Description and Enablement

Examines the disclosure requirements that ensure the public receives a genuine teaching. Links adequate disclosure to the scope of enforceable claims.

Lesson 4 • Utility and Industrial Applicability

Addresses the requirement that an invention have a credible, specific, and substantial use. Distinguishes operable from inoperable inventions.

Lesson 1 • Overview of Application Components

Maps the standard sections of a patent application and their purposes. Provides a framework for the detailed drafting covered in later sections.

Lesson 2 • Drafting the Specification

Teaches how to write a detailed description that fully supports the claims. Emphasizes clarity, completeness, and strategic disclosure.

Lesson 3 • Abstract and Summary Writing

Explains how to write concise, accurate abstracts and summaries. Highlights how these sections affect searchability and first impressions.

Lesson 4 • Patent Drawings and Figures

Covers formal requirements for patent drawings and their role in disclosure. Students learn to direct illustrators and review figures for compliance.

Lesson 1 • Claim Language and Precision

Addresses word choice, antecedent basis, and definiteness in claims. Prevents common drafting errors that lead to rejections or invalidity.

Lesson 2 • Independent and Dependent Claims

Distinguishes independent claims from dependent claims and explains their strategic relationship. Teaches how to build a claim set with layered protection.

Lesson 3 • Anatomy of a Patent Claim

Breaks down the preamble, transition, and body of a claim. Establishes the structural rules that govern all claim types.

Lesson 4 • Claim Types and Categories

Covers apparatus, method, composition, and system claims. Students select the appropriate claim type for each inventive aspect.

Lesson 1 • Examiner Interviews

Explains how to request and conduct productive examiner interviews. Demonstrates how interviews accelerate prosecution and resolve disputes.

Lesson 2 • Appeals and Patent Board Practice

Introduces the appellate process before the patent trial board. Covers brief writing, oral argument, and post-appeal options.

Lesson 3 • Final Rejections and After-Final Practice

Addresses options available after a final rejection, including after-final amendments and continued examination. Helps students avoid abandonment.

Lesson 4 • Filing and Initial Examination

Covers the steps from application submission through the first office action. Explains how examiners conduct prior art searches and formulate rejections.

Lesson 1 • PCT Application Process

Details the phases, deadlines, and documents of the Patent Cooperation Treaty process. Students manage PCT filings from international phase through national entry.

Lesson 2 • Managing a Global Patent Portfolio

Addresses the ongoing management of patents across multiple jurisdictions. Covers annuity payments, maintenance, and portfolio rationalization.

Lesson 3 • International Filing Systems Overview

Introduces the major international patent filing routes and their key differences. Provides a decision framework for choosing the right route.

Lesson 4 • National Phase Entry Strategy

Covers the decisions and actions required when entering national or regional phases. Addresses translation, local counsel, and fee management.

Lesson 1 • Defenses to Infringement

Covers the main defenses available to accused infringers. Prepares students to evaluate the strength of invalidity and non-infringement arguments.

Lesson 2 • Infringement Analysis Framework

Introduces the claim-by-claim comparison method for determining infringement. Establishes the analytical steps used in litigation and licensing.

Lesson 3 • Direct and Indirect Infringement

Distinguishes direct infringement from induced and contributory infringement. Addresses multi-party infringement scenarios common in technology industries.

Lesson 4 • Remedies and Damages

Explains the monetary and injunctive remedies available to patent owners. Covers damages calculation methods and willful infringement consequences.

Lesson 1 • Post-Grant Proceedings and Portfolio Defense

Covers inter partes review, post-grant review, and reexamination as tools for challenging or defending patents. Integrates post-grant strategy into portfolio management.

Lesson 2 • Patent Portfolio Development

Covers the systematic process of building a patent portfolio over time. Addresses claim diversity, technology coverage, and white space identification.

Lesson 3 • Building a Patent Strategy

Connects patent filing decisions to business goals such as market exclusivity and licensing revenue. Teaches how to prioritize inventions for protection.

Lesson 4 • Patent Valuation Methods

Presents the main approaches to assigning monetary value to patents. Enables students to support transactions, litigation, and investment decisions.