
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Describe the philosophical logic behind granting patents.
Describe the role of patents in fostering invention.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Outline the history of patents from antiquity through the 1700s
Identify flaws in early European patent systems
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Explain the role of the Founding Fathers in developing the U.S. patent system.
Explain the six unique features of the U.S. patent system.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Describe the differences between U.S. and European patent laws.
Describe the history of patent litigation in the United States.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Explain the effects of the U.S. patent system on American economic development
Describe trends in the U.S. patenting over the years
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Identify the characteristics of a patentable invention.
Understand what is not patentable and why.
Identify the criteria that an invention must meet to earn a patent.
Understand why non-obviousness is the most difficult hurdle to overcome.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Identify the characteristics of a patentable invention.
Understand what is not patentable and why.
Identify the criteria that an invention must meet to earn a patent.
Understand why non-obviousness is the most difficult hurdle to overcome.
*Correction: Gottschalk v. Benson was decided in 1972, not 1927.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Explain the differences among utility, plant, and design patents.
Describe common patent misconceptions.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Discuss the steps in the patent application process.
Discuss the importance of proper claims drafting.
Correction 5/19/22: The provision patent filing fees are now $300 for a small entity and $150 for a micro entity. In addition, maintenance fees are not required for any plant patents or for any design patents. (USPTO)
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the basic rights of patent owners.
Gain an appreciation of the complex process of patent litigation.
Understand the variety of options one has in enforcing patent rights.
Appreciate the time and expense involved in doing so.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the variety of options one has in enforcing patent rights.
Appreciate the time and expense involved in doing so.
Understand the pros and cons in deciding who, what, where, when, and how to sue an infringe.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the various pretrial motions available to parties in a litigation.
Understand the multiple procedures involved in the pretrial phase of patent litigation.
Appreciate the costs involved and the ways they affect the ultimate trial outcome.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the importance of jury selection and opposing arguments.
Grasp why patent trials are often called “morality plays.”
Grasp the significance of equitable proceedings in the post-trial phase.
Appreciate the ways in which findings of “inequitable conduct,” “willfulness,” and/or “exceptional case” can alter trial results.
Understand what happens after a jury verdict is entered.
Appreciate the chances of success of appeals based on fact versus legal issue.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the various alternative methods of dispute resolution.
Distinguish the pros and cons of arbitration versus mediation.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Appreciate the threat posed by patent trolls to innocent businesses.
Understand the difference between legitimate patent holders enforcing their rights and extortionist patent trolls who try to game the legal system.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the theoretical and legal underpinnings of copyright.
Appreciate the important differences between copyrights and patents.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the role early copyright systems played in enforcing monopolies.
Appreciate the degree to which authors’ rights were ignored at that time.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand the utilitarian nature of copyright law
Grasp the link between allied rights like the right of privacy and copyright
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Know what kinds of creative work are eligible for copyright.
Grasp the broad definition of “authors” and “literary works."
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Discern the specific rights granted to copyright owners.
Understand the term of those rights as well as in some cases their limitations.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
See how copyright law has continually adapted to technological change.
Note how digital entertainment industries in particular have been affected by changes in copyright law
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
See how a changing music industry has been affected by copyright.
Appreciate the challenges that continued technology advances may pose for copyright in the future.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand how alternative forms of copyright are emerging in today’s increasingly digital ecosystem.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Discuss the origins of trademarks.
Analyze examples of early forms of trademarks.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand trademarks and their properties.
Identify differences between trademarks and other intellectual property rights.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Grasp the basics of trademark law.
Analyze the notable trademark cases.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Identify the four types of trademarks.
Compare differences between types of trademarks.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Learn the subject matter of trademarks.
Analyze characteristics of various forms of trademarks.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Discover the elements of distinctiveness within trademarks.
Identify the various kinds of marks used.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Identify the bars to trademark.
Dissect criteria for trademark registration.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Identify the reasons for establishing trademark registration.
Understand the process of trademark protection.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Identify the factors involved in trademark infringement.
Understand the basis for determining similarity.
Explain remedies for trademark infringement.
Discuss effects of infringement.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Discuss fair use of trademarks.
Identify examples of fair use cases.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Define trade secrets.
Identify the advantages and disadvantages of protecting intellectual property through trade secrets.
Identify the roots of trade secret law in the United States.
Explain the purpose of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the material while watching the course, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the bottom right hand corner of each course video next to the Volume icon]
[PRO TIP: To better follow along with the course material, turn on the Transcripts feature located on the right hand corner of the video next to the Volume icon]
Intellectual Property: Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Creators
Protecting innovations and creative work is more crucial than ever in today’s Knowledge Economy. “Intellectual Property: Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Creators” teaches the basics of IP to ordinary citizens, making IP accessible to everyone, not just lawyers and CEOs.
Why is Intellectual Property Important?
IP has grown from a narrowly specialized legal field into a major force in American social and economic life today. Today, IP comprises an astonishing 38 percent of total U.S. GDP, and represents 80 percent of the market value of all publicly-traded companies in the U.S.
Indeed, IP has become the new watchword in almost any career. Look around and you’ll see IP’s imprint everywhere. From Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 500 board rooms, from MIT engineering labs to Wall Street trading desks, and from college business seminars to debates in Congress over global trade policy, IP issues now lie at the heart of almost every arena of modern life today.
As a result, any person today who does not understand at least the basics of intellectual property — and its value and role in science, business, arts, and the professions — will find him or herself at a distinct disadvantage in the world of tomorrow.
Why Take the Course?
If you are an innovator, entrepreneur, or creator of any kind, this course will equip you with the necessary knowledge to protect and capitalize on your intellectual property (IP).
Patents: How do exclusive rights to your inventions benefit you and society? Find out what’s patentable, what’s not, and how to navigate the patent system successfully.
Copyrights: Learn how you can protect a wide variety of artistic and intellectual works. What’s Fair Use – and what’s not?
Trademarks: Why are trademarked words, names, and symbols so valuable – and how can you protect them?
Trade Secrets: Do you have to publicly disclose your creation to gain legal protection?
Written by Experts
“Intellectual Property: Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Creators” is based on The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property’s IP textbook The Intangible Advantage: Understanding Intellectual Property in the New Economy. Authored by Pulitzer Prize-nominated intellectual property expert David Kline, with former Undersecretary of Commerce and Director of the Patent Office David Kappos serving as executive editor.
Learn More
To get the most out of this course, download The Intangible Advantage on the MichelsonIP website, where you’ll find the text-only version of the book along with an interactive eBook with built-in learning assessment tools (available in iBooks). You can also access our short animated video series on YouTube, answering the most frequently asked IP questions.
This course is presented by The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, an initiative of The Michelson 20MM Foundation, in partnership with The Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation. Michelson 20MM and its initiatives are made possible by the generous support of Dr. Gary Karlin Michelson and his wife, Alya Michelson.