Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LEGAL OPINIONS
- 1.01 Introduction
- 1.02 Business and Legal Reasons for Obtaining Opinions
- 1.03 Timing Considerations
- 1.04 Types of Opinions
- 1.05 Due Diligence for Business Transactions
- 1.06 Exculpatory Opinions in Patent Cases
- 1.07 Conclusion
Chapter 2. ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES
- 2.01 Introduction
- 2.02 Confidentiality
- 2.03 Third-Party Opinions
- 2.04 “Noisy” Withdrawal
- 2.05 Conclusion
Chapter 3. PATENT INFRINGEMENT AND RIGHT-TO-USE OPINIONS
- 3.01 Introduction—Types of Opinions
- 3.02 The Elements of the Opinion
- 3.03 The Materials
- 3.04 The Subject Product or Process
- 3.05 Applicable Legal Principles
- 3.06 Right-to-Use Searches
- 3.07 Other Patent Infringement Issues
- 3.08 Sample Opinions
Chapter 4. PATENT VALIDITY OPINIONS
- 4.01 Introduction
- 4.02 Claim Construction
- 4.03 Burdens on Party Challenging Patent Validity
- 4.04 Statutory Grounds for Invalidating Patents
- 4.05 Grounds for Challenging the Enforceability of a Patent
- 4.06 Elements of an Effective Opinion
- 4.07 Sample Validity Opinions
Chapter 5. PATENT SEARCHING
- 5.01 Introduction
- 5.02 The Elements of a Patentability Search—The Classification System
- 5.03 Patentability—Disclosure and Prior Art
- 5.04 Patent Databases
- 5.05 The Search Report
- 5.06 Assessing the Search
- 5.07 The Validity Search
- 5.08 Infringement Searching
- 5.09 Assignment and Patentee Index Searches
- 5.10 Right-to-Use Searches
- 5.11 Collection Searches
- 5.12 Conclusion
Chapter 6. PATENT OPINION-OF-COUNSEL DEFENSE ISSUES
- 6.01 Introduction
- 6.02 History
- 6.03 The Affirmative Duty to Exercise Due Care
- 6.04 Competency Issues
- 6.05 Reasonable Reliance
- 6.06 Client's Responsibility to Attorney/Opinion Giver
- 6.07 The Attorney as Witness
- 6.08 Waiver of Privilege
- 6.09 Bifurcation
- 6.10 Conclusion
Chapter 7. TRADEMARK SEARCHES AND INVESTIGATIONS
- 7.01 Introduction
- 7.02 Determining the Availability of a Mark
- 7.03 Understanding the Basics Before Ordering or Conducting the Search
- 7.04 In-House Searching
- 7.05 Outside Search Companies
- 7.06 Extended Investigations
- 7.07 Conclusion
Chapter 8. TRADEMARK AVAILABILITY OPINIONS
- 8.01 Introduction
- 8.02 Inherently Distinctive vs. Noninherently Distinctive Marks
- 8.03 Marks Incapable of Receiving Trademark Protection
- 8.04 Likelihood of Confusion
- 8.05 Federal Registrations, State Registrations, and Common Law Marks
- 8.06 The Trademark Opinion Letter
- 8.07 Conclusion
Chapter 9. TRADEMARK DILUTION AND INTERNET CONSIDERATIONS
- 9.01 Introduction
- 9.02 Dilution
- 9.03 Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition on the Internet
- 9.04 Conclusion
Chapter 10. COPYRIGHT OPINIONS
- 10.01 Introduction
- 10.02 Duration of Copyright
- 10.03 Ownership
- 10.04 Infringement, Fair Use, and Innocent Infringement
Chapter 11. RESPONSES TO AUDIT INQUIRIES
- 11.01 The Audit Inquiry Letter
- 11.02 The ABA Policy Statement
- 11.03 Loss Contingencies and Unasserted Claims
- 11.04 How Much Information Should Be Provided to the Auditor?
- 11.05 Illustrative Examples
- 11.06 The Attorney's Professional Responsibility to Advise the Client Concerning Disclosure Obligations
- 11.07 Informed Consent
- 11.08 Privilege Issues
- 11.09 Conflict Considerations
- 11.10 Implementing the ABA Policy Statement
- 11.11 Conclusion
Chapter 12. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DUE DILIGENCE FOR BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS
- 12.01 Introduction
- 12.02 Conducting Due Diligence—Checklists
- 12.03 Due Diligence Procedure
- 12.04 Due Diligence Goals
- 12.05 Sample Checklist
Chapter 13. PATENTABILITY OPINIONS
- 13.01 Patentability Analysis/Legal Principles
- 13.02 Legal Framework
- 13.03 35 U.S.C. Section 101
- 13.04 35 U.S.C. Section 102
- 13.05 35 U.S.C. Section 103
- 13.06 The America Invents Act (AIA) of 2011
APPENDICES
Appendix A - PLAN AND USE OF THE MANUAL OF CLASSIFICATION
Appendix B - CHAPTER 900: PRIOR ART, CLASSIFICATION, SEARCH
Appendix C - CHAPTER 1400: CLASSIFICATION AND SEARCH
Appendix D - WITHDRAWAL WHEN SERVICES WILL BE USED TO PERPETRATE FRAUD
Appendix E - ANTICYBERSQUATTING CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
Appendix F - UNIFORM DOMAIN NAME DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY
Appendix G - RULES FOR UNIFORM DOMAIN NAME DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY
Appendix H - WIPO ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION CENTER, ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION
Appendix I - TO PROMOTE INNOVATION: THE PROPER BALANCE OF COMPETITION AND PATENT LAW AND POLICY, A REPORT BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (OCTOBER 2003)
Appendix J - H.R. 2795: PATENT REFORM ACT OF 2005
Appendix K - U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, THE INTERNET, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, OVERSIGHT HEARING ON THE COMMITTEE PRINT REGARDING PATENT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Appendix L - U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HEARING ON PERSPECTIVES ON PATENTS
Appendix M - AN AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO H.R. 2795: COALITION PRINT
Appendix N - UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, THE INTERNET, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY OVERSIGHT HEARING ON PATENT TROLLS: FACT OR FICTION?
Appendix O - FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION STATEMENT ON AMERICAN INNOVATION AT RISK: THE CASE FOR PATENT REFORM, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, THE INTERNET, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Appendix P - H.R. 1908, PATENT REFORM ACT OF 2007 Appendix Q OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. PATENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USPC)
Appendix R - SENATE BILL 515 TO AMEND TITLE 35, UNITED STATES CODE
Appendix S - SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE REPORT FOR SENATE BILL 515
Appendix T - H.R. 1249: TO AMEND TITLE 35, UNITED STATES CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR PATENT REFORM
Appendix U - S.23: TO AMEND TITLE 35, UNITED STATES CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR PATENT REFORM
Table of Cases
Table of Statutes
Index
