About Innovations and Patent Management

Innovations policy is so important to this country that the Founders addressed patents in the Constitution and made patent protection one of the first laws passed by the new Republic. Since then, patents have become even more important to the development of the economy, with many businesses being built on a foundation of patents. Regardless of their benefits, patents are being increasingly criticized by those who lament vague or questionable patents, “patent trolls,” and pharmaceutical price-gouging. With both practical and policy issues in mind, this course addresses innovations law with an emphasis on placing legal doctrine in a real-world context. The course will emphasize practical aspects of patent practice, spending class time learning the basics of reading patents, construing claims, drafting patents, and enforcing patents.

This course qualifies for skills credits. There is no curve. Grading will be based on class participation and a number of experiential projects. These projects are designed to integrate your understanding of innovation policy, as well as patent and trade secret law, theory, practice, and professional values. This course also counts as a core course towards the St. Thomas Law Intellectual Property Law certificate program.