NOTE: If you are an employee of an ECS Corporate Member organization, you are entitled to a significant registration discount to this tutorial. Please complete the Seattle Meeting registration formhere and return it to ECS via fax or e-mail (do not register online).
Intellectual Property: An Introduction for Research Scientists, Engineers, and Technologists
E. Jennings Taylor, Instructor
This half-day tutorial (1300-1600h) will provide an introduction to the various forms of intellectual property; trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights with an emphasis on patents. The objective of the tutorial is to provide the electrochemist/engineer with an appreciation of the historical basis of the patent system and the nuances related to the concepts of prior art and obviousness. A case study of the on-going prosecution of an electrochemical technology will be presented. In addition, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, signed into law in September 2011, will be reviewed.
This tutorial will provide an introduction to the various forms of intellectual property, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights with an emphasis on patents. The foundation of modern patent principles will be traced from their origin in the U.S. Constitution, their early development and recent status. Topics to be covered include:
Analogies between intellectual property and tangible property;
Distinction between an author of a scientific paper and inventor on a patent; and
Statutory criteria for obtaining a U.S. patent:
utility,
novelty,
non-obviousness,
enabling description; and
lack of prior public disclosure.
The tutorial will provide the basis for determination of novelty vis-ŕ-vis prior art. In addition, the difference between “technical obviousness” and “legal obviousness” will be clarified. Finally, the nuances regarding public disclosure will be addressed. This tutorial will introduce the various forms of patent claims in view of claim elements and will culminate with case studies of the patent examination process along with the potential for citation analysis as a tool for identifying potential strategic partners. In closing, the purpose of the tutorial is not to replace the patent counsel, but rather to facilitate informed interaction between the scientist/engineer/technologist inventor with said patent counsel.
About the Instructor
E. Jennings Taylor serves as Vice-President/Chief Technical Officer of Faraday Technology Inc. and IP Counsel of Physical Sciences Inc. Dr. Taylor founded Faraday Technology in 1991 and guided the company through a successful acquisition by Physical Sciences Inc. of Boston, MA. Dr. Taylor is author/co-author of approximately 150 technical manuscripts and inventor/co-inventor of approximately 40 patents/patents pending. He received his BA in chemistry from Wittenberg University, MS/PhD in Materials Science from University of Virginia, as well as MS in Technology Strategy and Policy from Boston University. Dr. Taylor is admitted to the bar of the United States Patent & Trademark Office and is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. Dr. Taylor is responsible for strategic technical leadership at Faraday and the management of the company’s 100+ patent portfolio.
