How to Invent and Protect Your Invention: A Guide to Patents for Scientists and Engineers

CHAPTER 1. THE U.S. PATENT SYSTEM

1. How does the U.S. Patent Office define the word “patent”?

2. Are U.S. patents effective outside of U.S. borders?

3. What four major activities can a patent holder exclude others from doing?

4. In the patent system, what do inventors offer in exchange for the 20-year period of exclusivity granted to patent holders?

5. Give an example of an intangible asset.

6. Give two examples of tangible assets.

7. How do tangible and intangible assets differ?

8. What do we mean when we say that the goal of U.S. patent law is “purely utilitarian”?

9. What is the difference between a patent and an invention?

10. Why might a potentially valuable invention turn out to be a worthless patent?

11. What training does a patent attorney typically have?

12. Why do many inventors have difficulty communicating with patent attorneys?

13. If the goal of the specification is to teach, what is the goal of the claims?

14. Why do we say that a patent is a negative right?

15. What legal obstacles might prevent a patent holder from making, using, selling, or importing his patented invention?

16. What rights do patent holder have against infringers?

17. What happens if someone is found to have infringed a patent?

18. Give at least three reasons for filing a patent.

19. How does having a patent help an inventor make money from his invention?

20. How can a filing patent application help a patent holder learn about his competitors?