An excellent text for clients to read before meeting with attorneys so they'll understand the fundamentals of patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, mask work, and unfair competition laws. This is not a "do-it-yourself" manual but rather a ready reference tool for inventors or creators that will generate maximum efficiencies in obtaining, preserving and enforcing their intellectual property rights. It explains why they need to secure the services of IPR attorneys. Coverage includes employment contracts, including the ability of engineers to take confidential and secret knowledge to a new job, shop rights and information to help an entrepreneur establish a non-conflicting enterprise when leaving their prior employment. Sample forms of contracts, contract clauses, and points to consider before signing employment agreements are included. Coverage of copyright, software protection, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as well as the procedural variances in international intellectual property laws and procedures.

Although many texts attempt to explain intellectual property law to scientists and engineers, they are ineffective because they fail to present the subject within the proper scope; they are either too expansive or too detailed for the needs of researchers and inventors. Instead of giving a mile-high view of all types of intellectual property or, at

International in scope, Patent Fundamentals for Scientists and Engineers, Second Edition provides a clear explanation of the patent system and patent principles. Designed for non-lawyers, this book includes information on the patenting process, obtaining patent protection, and how to recognize patentable inventions and avoid legal problems of infringement. New in the Second Edition: Techniques for searching the Internet Internet addresses for patent information and references A new chapter providing the forms required to file a patent Expanded coverage of international patents The nontechnical style of this book makes it easy to read and understand. By providing a basic working knowledge of patents, Patent Fundamentals for Scientists and Engineers, Second Edition enables non-specialists to make well-informed decisions affecting new and patentable products. It is an ideal book for anyone without prior legal knowledge who needs to understand the patent system, including scientists, engineers, inventors, researchers, business managers, entrepreneurs, and patent liaison workers.

"This comprehensive book is the first of its kind to take scientists and engineers beyond simply getting a patent granted. Through the author's extensive technical background and experience in intellectual property licensing, it ties the many technical, legal and business aspects of patent enforcement to the innovation and patenting stage in the patent value chain, with the objective of helping inventors to create valuable patents that can be capitalized. In easy-to-understand language, this book covers various aspects, including basic concepts of patent laws and rules, innovation protection, patenting, patents post-granting and patent licensing. With over 40 tables, 70 figures, nearly 100 cases and examples, and a comprehensive index table, it serves as a practical handbook for inventors and patent practitioners. This second edition incorporates the latest changes in the America Invents Act (AIA), with additional case studies and illustrations throughout the book. For inventors who want to file patents by themselves, this new edition provides guidelines and step-by-step instructions on preparing and filing a US provisional patent application, while avoiding the pitfalls that commonly occur in do-it-yourself patenting."--

Relevant Tutorials: Fundamentals of Patent Protection for EngineersHow to be a Prolific Inventor This book is the first of its kind to teach scientists and engineers how to go beyond simply getting a patent granted. It covers various aspects, from basic concepts of patent laws, patent preparation to patent post granting, in an easy-to-understand language for inventors. It also introduces the basis of patent licensing and related business aspects, helping inventors create patents that can be better capitalized. Through the author's extensive scientific background and experience, it provides common pitfalls and tips on how an inventor should assist in all phases of patent filing, prosecution and licensing.Contents: Fundamentals in PatentingPatent Prosecution and Post GrantingBusiness Perspectives and Beyond Readership: Researchers, scientists, engineers, individual inventors in innovation, entrepreneurship; business management, patent strategy and portfolio management, intellectual property professionals and engineering students in graduate studies.

The most significant overhaul of the U.S. patent laws in decades occurred with the recent passage of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA). Understanding the law that dictates what a patent is and how a patent is obtained and enforced, and the recent changes through statute or case law litigation presents unique challenges. This third edition of Patent Fundamentals for Scientists and Engineers examines the new Act and provides an overview of the patent system for the independent inventor as well as for members of the scientific and business community—whether a scientist, engineer, supervisor, or manager. In addition to a new chapter dedicated to the America Invents Act, the third edition includes annotations of the recent law changes, updates in all chapters, new figures, and new case studies. The authors discuss patent filing outside of the United States and also dedicate a chapter specifically to the Canadian patent system. They describe the key topics that anyone involved in the patent process needs to know, including what makes an invention patentable, the art of patent searching, and the crucial role of record keeping. The text also includes an indispensable glossary of patent terminology, as well as an appendix with sample U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) forms. This book provides a valuable guide to assist inventors in dealing with the USPTO, as well as with patent professionals. The text describes the patent process from conception to application filing and is a must-have reference for scientists and businesspeople alike. Since the role of patent professionals is to obtain the maximum protection for inventors, both the inventor and businessperson would be well advised to understand and participate in all the steps involved. This book offers an excellent insight into the patent process.

Bridges the gap between the realistic needs and questions of scientists and engineers and the legal skills of professionals in the patent field at a level accessible to those with no legal training • Written for inventors in lay terms that they can relate to or easily follow • Lays out the new features of patent law introduced by the America Invents Act of 2012 • Explains the differences between the first-to-invent and first-to-file rules and why the two rules will coexist • Focuses on the growth of new technologies in industry versus the laws protecting them