Nolo's Patents for Beginners

Packed with plain-English explanations and step-by-step instructions, Nolo's Patent for Beginners clearly defines what a patent is and why an inventor needs one. The book shows readers:
-- how to document an invention for maximum protection
-- how to tackle the patent-searching and patent-application processes
-- who owns a patent
-- how to avoid patent infringement
-- and more

The 2nd edition provides the latest information on patent applications, the publication of patents after 18 months, changes in international rules and more.

David Pressman has over 40 years of experience in the patent profession -- as a patent attorney, an examiner for the U.S. Patent Office and a university instructor Rich Stim is an intellectual property and licensing attorney

Introduction

Organization of Text

2

(1)

Icons Used in This Book

3

(1)

Patents and Intellectual Property Law

What Is a Patent?

3

(1)

The Three Types of Patents

4

(1)

Patent Rights

5

(1)

The Requirements for Obtaining a Patent

5

(1)

How Long Do Patent Rights Last?

6

(1)

How Patent Rights Can Be Lost

7

(1)

Intellectual Property---The Big Picture

7

(1)

Trademarks

8

(1)

Copyright

9

(3)

Trade Secrets

12

(4)

Unfair Competition

16

Qualifying for a Patent

Legal Requirements for a Utility Patent

2

(1)

Statutory Classes

3

(4)

Utility

7

(2)

Novelty and Prior Art

9

(8)

Nonobviousness

17

(8)

Legal Requirements for a Design Patent

25

(1)

Legal Requirements for a Plant Patent

25

Invention Documentation

The Importance of Documentation

2

(1)

Lab Notebook

3

(3)

Invention Disclosure

6

(1)

Documenting Conception: Disclosure Document Program (DDP)

6

(2)

Documenting Reduction to Practice: Provisional Patent Application

8

(1)

Trade Secret Considerations

9

Patent Searching

Principles of Patent Searching

2

(1)

Hiring a Patent Searcher

3

(2)

Do It Yourself Searching

5

Reading and Writing Patents

Elements of a Patent

3

(1)

Invention and Inventor Data

3

(1)

Specification

3

(11)

Claims

14

(5)

Abstract

19

(1)

Drawings

20

(3)

Preparation of a Patent Application

23

Patent Prosecution and the PTO

Patent Prosecution: The Road to Allowance

2

(10)

Responding to a Final Office Action

12

(2)

Additional Application Issues

14

(3)

Design Patent Prosecution

17

Patent Ownership

The Inventor Is Initial Owner of Patent Rights

2

(1)

Employee Inventions

2

(5)

Joint Owners

7

Patent Infringement

What Is Patent Infringement?

3

(5)

Who Can Sue, Who Can Be Sued?

8

(1)

Stopping Patent Infringement

8

(5)

Defenses to Patent Infringement

13

(5)

Ending Disputes Without a Lawsuit

18

International Patent Law

Introduction to Foreign Patent Treaties and Laws

2

(4)

Putting It Together: The Most Common Route for U.S. Inventors Seeking Foreign Patent Coverage

6

(1)

The Paris Convention and the One-Year Foreign Filing Rule

6

(2)

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

8

(3)

European Patent Office (EPO)

11

(1)

Locating Foreign Patent Agents

12

Help Beyond This Book

Inventor Resources

2

(1)

Patents and Intellectual Property Resources

3

(3)

Working With an Attorney

6

Glossary

Index

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.