Patent Strategy for Researchers and Research Managers, 3rd Edition

Preface

Few researchers and managers have even a limited appreciation of the ongoing and continual flux in many areas of intellectual property. Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 1996, many countries have taken steps to strengthen and improve the quality of their patenting systems. These changes include significant changes to the patent laws, patent office rules, and significant rulings by courts that affect the interpretation of intellectual property laws. In addition, like almost every other part of society, the use of electronic resources has dramatically impacted the evaluation, acquisition, and use of intellectual property. Further, new types of ‘technology’ have caused governments to examine whether or not they will allow researchers to obtain patent protection on certain new developments.

The aim of all editions of Patent Strategy has been to present universal strategy concepts that are useful to researchers and research managers. One aim of this new third edition is to discuss some of the major features and new strategic considerations brought about by the passage in the United States of the America Invents Act. One major feature of this Act is to change the United States law that sought to grant the patent for an invention to the first person that could show that they had rightfully first made the invention; the Act provides for a new system that grants the patent to the first inventor of an invention that actually files for the patent in the patent ...