Seminar - 2 hours. This skill-based course examines the core requirements and strategies for drafting and prosecuting a patent application before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (US PTO). We will examine the theory and practice of drafting patent claims and their supporting disclosure, conducting inventor interviews, and performing patentability searches and other preparatory fact investigations. A major objective of the course will be in helping students draft and prosecute a complete patent application in a real-world setting. Students will interact with real inventors and US PTO examiners to gain the experience of getting a patent issued – through interactions with an inventor to develop an idea and draft a patent application, responding to rejections and office actions from the US PTO after filing the patent application, through interactions with a US PTO examiner to interview the office action and getting the application issued. Students are evaluated on participation, in-class and take-home exercises, and projects relating to the drafting and prosecution of a patent application.
Class taught on accelerated, non-traditional schedule. Class will meet 7 times:
Thursdays: August 24, September 7, September 21, October 5, and October 19 from 4:10-7pm
Saturdays: November 4, and November 18 from 9-4pm
Prerequisites: 274 Intellectual Property or instructor consent.
Graduation Requirements: Counts towards Professional Skills Requirement.