patent information indiana university 17 september, 2002 ron kaminecki dialog – a thomson company...

Patent Information Indiana University17 September, 2002

Ron Kaminecki

Dialog – A Thomson Company

[email protected]

Intent

• To learn about the patent process

• To be able to read a patent

• To understand why they are written the way that they are written

• To be able to find patents

Types of Intellectual Property

• Patents

• Trademarks

• Copyrights

• Trade Secrets

Patents

• Keep others from making, using, selling, importing your invention

• You must make an “enabling disclosure,” including a “best mode” for practicing the invention

• This protection, plus the best mode information make patents a source of competitive information

Patentability

• Novel

• Useful

• Non-Obvious

Is this patentable?

• I created a black powder that lowers fever in humans

• The powder has no side effects

• But, it takes a week to make a batch

DIALOG(R)File 351:Derwent WPI(c) 2002 Thomson Derwent. All rts. reserv.

008610382WPI Acc No: 1991-114412/199116XRAM Acc No: C91-049296 Antipyretic prodn - by continuously heating live mole in clay-ware buried in ash -and grinding dead molePatent Assignee: KIBA T (KIBA-I)Number of Countries: 001 Number of Patents: 002Patent Family:Patent No Kind Date Applicat No Kind Date WeekJP 3056421 A 19910312 JP 89190307 A 19890721 199116 BJP 94051630 B2 19940706 JP 89190307 A 19890721 199425 Abstract (Basic): JP 3056421 A Prepn. comprises continuously heating a live mole (sic) in clay ware buried in ash for a week and grinding the dead mole into black powder. USE/ADVANTAGE - The drug obtained works rapidly as an antipyretic and causes no side reactions. The drug showed rapid antipyretic effects in patients with fever of 38 to 40 deg.C. associated with a common cold.

Types of patents

• Product

• Process

• Improvement

• Machine

• Item of manufacture (e.g., rug)

• New use

Kinds of patents

• Utility– Chemical– Electrical– Mechanical

• Plant

• Design

Markush claims

• Typically in chemical cases

• Allows broad claiming of many species of related compounds

Markush group

Markush claim

DETAILED DESCRIPTION - 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives of formula (I) and their acid addition salts are new. X=H, Cl or OCH3; Y=H or halo; Z=methyl or Cl; R=1-4C alkyl or NR1R2; and R1, R2 =H, 1-4C alkyl, 1-4C alkoxy or

3-6C cycloalkyl.

Is this patentable?

• You make a composition consisting of cayenne pepper and other kitchen spices

• You put it into someone’s shoes

Patent information backgrounder

• Business information can be found in many fields in a patent

• Can also take advantage of timing differences to “predict” a patent publishing elsewhere

US Patent – front page

US Patent – first column

Patentees that have cited Quaker RANK No. Items in File Items Ranked %Items Ranked Term

-------- ------------- ------------ ------------- ---- 1 496046 539 23.3% UNASSIGNED 2 576 103 04.5% QUAKER OATS 3 410 65 02.8% NABISCO BRANDS 4 451 46 02.0% GENERAL MILLS 5 564 32 01.4% MATTEL, INC 6 140 28 01.2% LITTLE TIKES CO 7 735 25 01.1% INTERLEGO AG CH 8 962 21 00.9% NESTEC S A CH 9 1119 21 00.9% UNION OIL CO 10 60 19 00.8% HESTAIR

• 11 14990 17 00.7% SONY CORP JP 12 82 16 00.7% FISHER PRICE INC 13 155 16 00.7% INTERLEGO A.G. 14 776 15 00.6% NABISCO, INC. 15 43 15 00.6% TODAY S KIDS INC 16 169 15 00.6% TOMY CO LTD JP 17 106 14 00.6% COSCO INC 18 5749 14 00.6% PROCTER & GAMBLE 19 315 14 00.6% TAKARA CO LTD JP 20 244 14 00.6% THE PILLSBURY CO 21 258 13 00.6% PILLSBURY CO THE

• .• .• .

50 43 10 00.4% GERRY BABY PROD

Companies in litigation with Quaker Oats

• RANK No. Items Term-------- ----- ---- 1 20 QUAKER OATS CO 2 4 FISHER-PRICE INC 3 2 FABWELL INC 4 2 GENERAL FOODS CORP 5 2 GENERAL MILLS INC 6 2 LUND INDUSTRIES 7 2 RUBBERMAID INCROPORATED 8 1 BEECHAM GROUP 9 1 BROOKFIELD ATHLETIC CO INC 10 1 BUSH BROS & CO 11 1 DEJAY CORP 12 1 HORTON CO 13 1 ISLAND MERCHANDISE CO LTD 14 1 KWIK-FIND INC 15 1 LILLIAN VERNON CORP 16 1 LITTLE PEOPLE SEATS INCORPORATED 17 1 MALT-O-MEAL CO 18 1 MATTEL INC 19 1 MIDDLEBY JOSEPH JR INC 20 1 SANDS TAYLOR & WOOD CO 21 1 SANKYO COMPANY 22 1 SPANG & CO 23 1 STOKELY-VAN CAMP INC 24 1 TAURUS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED 25 1 THE GATORADE COMPANY INC 26 1 TITAN TIRE CORPORATION 27 1 TITAN WHEEL INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED 28 1 TODAYS KIDS INC

US patent – second column

US Patent - abstract

US Patent – field of invention

US Patent – Background of invention

US Patent – background art

US Patent – Summary of the Invention

US Patent – detailed description of the invention

US Patent – first claim

US Patent – last claim

First handout of original patents

Consider every part of a patent as a potential search term

Patents can have siblings/children

• Division

• Continuation

• Continuation in part

Original application


Division


Division

Continuation in part


Division


Continuation


Division

Continuation


Continuation


Division

Continuation


Division

Continuation


Division

Continuation


Division

Continuation

CIP


Division

Continuation


Division

Continuation

CIPEach application has its own application number, and if it

claims an earlier priority, it will have another number – the priority number

A history of one of Jerome Lemelson’s patents

Publication Application Filing Number Kind Date Number Date -------------- -- -------- -------------- --------Main Patent US 6169840 A 20010102 US 938493 19930125Division US 4984073 A US 86906969 19860915Division US 4338626 A US 7913608 19790216Division US 4148061 A US 77778331 19770316Continuation US 5249045 A US 92826617 19920128Continuation US 5119190 A US 89426080 19891024Continuation US 4660086 A US 85723183 19850415Continuation US 4511918 A US 82394946 19820702Continuation US 4118730 A US 72254710 19720518CIP Abandoned US 63267377 19630311CIP US 3081379 A US 56626211 19561204CIP Abandoned US 54477467 19541224Priority US 938493 19930125 US 92826617 19920128 US 89426080 19891024 US 86906969 19860915 US 85723183 19850415 US 82394946 19820702 US 7913608 19790216 US 77778331 19770316 US 72254710 19720518 US 63267377 19630311 US 56626211 19561204 US 54477467 19541224

Paris Convention date

• You must apply for a patent in every country in which you wish to have a patent within one year of the first filing

• Acknowledged by most countries

• This prevents an invention from being patented somewhere in the world forever

International patent organizations

• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)– Over 100 countries– Most filings in English

• European Patent Office (EPO)– Major European countries– File in English, French, German

• Miscellaneous others (ARIPO, etc.)

International patent organizations

• File in the US as the receiving office• Pay in American dollars• File in English• Date of filing is acknowledged by other

treaty states• Pay in stages (file, search, examination)• Delay prosecution for 20 or 30 months in

other countries

US patents vs. non-US patents

• Foreign patent applications published 18-36 months before US patents issue.

• After 29 November 2000, the US has published some applications over a range of dates.

• US will still be a slow publishing country for many applications

• Tracking foreign patents give insight to what will be publishing in the US as all are part of the same patent family.

A patent family

• Contains all patents/applications that are linked by a common priority application number

• Includes divisionals, continuations, CIPs• Includes members from other countries or treaties• Are very useful when answering the most asked

question in patents: “Find an English equivalent of this non-English patent.”

Second handout – online records

A patent family

• Preparation of hand-held snack item having heat-sensitive material and protective coating - comprises coating grain cake with heat-sensitive food and further coating with syrup mixture to form final productPatent Assignee: QUAKER OATS CO (QUAK ); WU R A (WURA-I)Inventor: WU R ANumber of Countries: 027 Number of Patents: 007Patent Family:Patent No Kind Date Applicat No Kind Date WeekEP 861603 A2 19980902 EP 98301414 A 19980226 199839 BCA 2227043 A 19980826 CA 2227043 A 19980115 199903MX 9801466 A1 19990101 MX 981466 A 19980223 200051CA 2227043 C 20010807 CA 2227043 A 19980115 200148US 6303163 B1 20011016 US 97805484 A 19970226 200164 US 2000617445 A 20000717US 20020015765 A1 20020207 US 97805484 A 19970226 200213 US 2000617445 A 20000717 US 2001928591 A 20010813US 6375998 B1 20020423 US 97805484 A 19970226 200232 US 2000489186 A 20000120

Legal proceedings

• Reassignment• License• Reexamination• Reissue• Certificate of correction• Payment of maintenance fee• Reinstatement of patent after late payment of

maintenance fee• Interference

Published US applications pre-2001

?t s1/9/1

1/9/1DIALOG(R)File 6:NTISComp&distr 2000 NTIS, Intl Cpyrght All Right. All rts. reserv.

2187958 NTIS Accession Number: ADD019739/XAB Nanoporous Membrane Immunosensor (*Patent* *Application*) Lee, G. U. Department of the Navy, Washington, DC. Corp. Source Codes: 001840000; 110050 Report No.: PAT-APPL-8-614 727 Filed 12 Jul 00 36p Languages: English Document Type: Patent Journal Announcement: USGRDR0107 This Government-owned invention available for U.S. licensing and,possibly, for foreign licensing. Copy of application available NTIS.Product reproduced from digital image. NTIS Prices: PC N03/MF A04

Published US applications pre-2001

• NTIS publishes only those applications based upon government research grants

• NTIS and USPTO are both under the Department of Commerce

Searching patents

• Patents are not written to be found; they are written to be defended in court

• If anything, they are written so that they are not found easily

Searching patents

• Many searches start with a non-English publication

• A patent drafter is his/her own lexicographer

at least one trigger; said trigger pivotally connected to said body; said trigger releasably connected to said catheter...d) activating said launching means such that said catheter is urgingly displaced axially along said needle...

(Similar language found in thousands of patents)

Abstract: A transmitter for hydraulic control controlled by a controlling member including a hydraulic chamber having a piston mounted thereto by means of a joint. The hydraulic chamber defines a pressure chamber with variable volume connected to a hydraulic line. A reservoir is connected to the pressure chamber….

US Patent 6298968

Searching patents

• Titles are not the best thing to use to limit in a search

UtilityM/ Method for coupling and release of submergible equipment

US Patent 6142237

Searching patents

• Prior art searches are always cost-constrained, but….

• Litigation searches have unlimited budgets

• Always consider the most basic method first

• ….like buying the product and looking on the label for a patent number

Searching patents

• Normal word order is often ignored; use an operator that is not word order specific

• When word order changes, extra words are often added

• The first claim is often used as the basis for the abstract; because the first claim is broad, consider using broad terms when searching

Searching patents

• For thorough searches of international databases, consider using foreign languages; English, French and German constitute over 90% of all PCT and EPO applications

• Over 80% of patents covered by Chemical Abstracts are Japanese

• If push comes to shove, consider a manual search (because attorneys really want them)

Searching patents

• A patent is a defensive tool, so think defensively:– a fence is not needed if you can scare off intruders

before they trespass– think like someone planning a static defense

• hiding is more important than being seen• if seen, however, look strong• try to attract attention to a falsity (a trap)• devise a redoubt ahead of time• plan a secret escape route• keep in mind that people do leave key ingredients out of

recipes

Searching patents

• It is possible to search the patent offices on the Internet

• Various patent databases are also available, with unique features to make searching easier and comprehensive

• Typically, additional indexing is added to subject terms and also assignee names

• Use US class codes on US patent files, international patent class codes (IPCs) on all else

Five basic patent searches

• Application number

• Patent number

• Assignee name

• Inventor name

• Subject search

Sound easy, but.

• US application numbers recycle every few years and applications are now published, sometimes in less than 18 months after priority

• Japanese patent numbers follow the reign of Emperor Hirohito until 1989 when Akihito took his place. In 2000, Japan adopted the western year

• Assignee names take many forms and are even misspelled often; use codes to maximize retrieval; and, reassignees do not show up on the cover

Specific claim

I claim

General claim

I claim

Markush claim

What is claimed is: 1. A sandwich comprising: two slices of bread, and an edible container inserted between said two slices of bread, said edible container housing a food therein and structured to have a V-shaped configuration and contain an outward bent circumferential end edge disposed along the top and a plate bottom thereof for causing the edible container to tightly adhere to the inner surfaces of two slices of bread wherein the food is a food selected from the group consisting of noodles, hot dog, cooked vegetable, fresh salad, cooked or fresh mushroom, barbecue foods, fruit jam, gel butter, and a mixture thereof, whereby the food is contained in a sufficient quantity therein while at the same time it is prevented from falling from the sandwich. (Main Claim)

Patent search exercise

Remember the Halomet patent?• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Legal Status (No,Type,Date,Code,Text): US 4592988 P 19840815 US AE APPLICATION DATA (PATENT)

• US 640813 A 19840815 US 4592988 P 19840815 US AS02 ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S

• INTEREST HALOMET, INC., SYRACUSE, NY A CORP OF NY ; ALDRICH, ROBERT G. : 19840813; EARL, GEOFFREY H. 19840813; TRUNKO, DAVID W. : 19840813 US 4592988 P 19860603 US A PATENT US 4592988 P 19860826 US CC CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION US 4592988 P 19880621 US DI ADVERSE DECISION IN

• INTERFERENCE US 4592988 P 19900814 US FP EXPIRED DUE TO FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEE 900603

For more information

• “Patent it Yourself” by Michael Pressman, second edition, Nolo Press - plus other Nolo publications at www.nolo.com

• “The Extreme Searcher’s Guide to Web Search Engines” by Ran Hock, second edition, Cyberage Books http://onstrat.com/Book.htm

• www.freepint.com/issues/100102.htm#tips

Ron KamineckiDialog

[email protected]

European Equivalent

European equivalent

European title

European abstract

European specification

Patent legal actions

• Reassignments

• Litigation

• Expiration

• Extensions

• Reexamination

• Abandonment

• etc.

Legal status (Inpadoc)• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)

Legal Status (No,Type,Date,Code,Text): US 4551388 P 830627 US AE APPLICATION DATA (PATENT)

• (APPL. DATA (PATENT)) US 508298 A 830627 US 4551388 P 850820 US AS02 ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S

• INTEREST ATLANTIC RICHFIELD COMPANY, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORP OF PA. ; SCHLADEMAN,

• JAMES A. : 19850623 US 4551388 P 851105 US A PATENT US 4551388 P 890214 US DI ADVERSE DECISION IN

• INTERFERENCE 880922 US 4551388 P 890602 US AS17 RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY PONY INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DE ; MANUFACTURERS HANOVER TRUST COMPANY :

• 19890310 US 4551388 P 940118 US FP EXPIRED DUE TO FAILURE TO

• PAY MAINTENANCE FEE 891107 US 4551388 P 940705 US DP NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

• OF DELAYED PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE

In summary:

• Check a patent’s family for more information

• Look at fields; inventor, assignee, cited art• Read through the specification• Know that it can be reassigned, reexamined,

extended, expired, etc.• Watch the technical details• Check with a company attorney!

patent information indiana university 17 september, 2002 ron kaminecki dialog – a thomson company...

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