MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2017



Patent Law Fundamentals

Jeffrey A. Meldman, Senior Lecturer

Jan/18 Wed 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151
Jan/20 Fri 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151
Jan/23 Mon 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151
Jan/25 Wed 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151
Jan/27 Fri 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151
Jan/30 Mon 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151
Feb/01 Wed 02:00PM-04:00PM E51-151

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Repeating event, participants welcome at any session
Prereq: None

Intensive introduction to the basic provisions of U.S. patent law, emphasizing the requirements for patentability and the process of applying for a patent.  Designed for students in all MIT departments.

Topics include:  Requirements of utility, novelty, and non-obviousness; Eligibility of software, business methods, and genetic material; Applying for a patent, including patent searches and the language of patent claims; New U.S. law of inventor priority; Infringement, defenses, and remedies; Comparing patent protection with the protection of copyrights, trade secrets, and trademarks.

Reading materials include key sections of the U.S. patent statute (Title 35, U.S. Code) and related judicial decisions.  All readings and lecture slides will be posted on Stellar. No textbooks or course packs.

Meets with 15.S51, which offers 3 units of G credit.  Students who wish to receive credit should register for 15.S51 and plan to take a comprehensive quiz in the final class meeting on February 1.  (For the benefit of non-credit participants, the MIT community will have access to the 15.S51 website throughout IAP.)

Sponsor(s): Sloan School of Management
Contact: Jeffrey Meldman, E62-317, 617 253-4932, JMELDMAN@MIT.EDU