Essentials of Intellectual Property: Law, Economics, and Strategy

"This excellent book provides important analytical tools and innovative perspectives for those who recognize that dealing with patents and copyrights is not just for lawyers anymore, but has become an essential management task." Eli Noam, Professor of Finance and Economics, and Director of the Columbia Institute for Tele–Information, Columbia Business School

The world of intellectual property changes faster than you can say "precedent–setting lawsuit" and it′s crucial to keep up with those changes, even if you′re not a patent attorney. Essentials of Intellectual Property, Second Edition is a concise, lively, and often witty introduction to the world of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets for non–lawyers.

In these pages, you′ll find a clear discussion of concepts such as:

IP strategy, valuation, audits, and management how to know what your IP is worth and manage it accordingly

Patent triage knowing when to "let go" of unprofitable patents, or monetize under used patents

Patent enforcement strategies to use and fatal errors to avoid

Licensing and cross–licensing crafting a deal that works for all parties

Contract work, non–competition agreements, and works–for–hire making sure you own the IP you paid employees or contractors to create

This Second Edition also includes a summary of the latest precedent–setting IP lawsuits and how the legal landscape has changed over the past decade, as well as a list of some of the most important (and sometimes, controversial) reforms that Congress has proposed to the U.S. patent system.

Thorough, understandable, and business–savvy, Essentials of Intellectual Property, Second Edition will quickly bring you up to date on everything you need to know about patents and other forms of intellectual property.

Foreword to the Second Edition.

Foreword to the First Edition.

Preface.

Author′s Note.

Acknowledgements.

About the Authors.

Introduction: Setting the Stage.

1 The Big Three: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights.

2 The Supporting Players: Other Types of IP Trade Secrets and Know–How, Mask Works, and Non–Competition and Non–Disclosure Agreements.

3 Protecting the Fruits of Your Research and Development. 

4 Know What You Have (IP Audit) and What the Other Guy Has (Competitive Intelligence).

5 What Is It Worth? Putting a Value on Intellectual Property.

6 Make More Money by Sharing (Licensing).

7 Corporate Officers and Directors Beware –– You Can Be Liable for Mismanaging Intellectual Property.

8 Enforcing Your Rights.

9 The Fundamental Things Apply, As Time Goes By –– Intellectual Property in Cyberspace.

10 The Patent Portfolio and Its Effect on Stock Price.

11 How the Courts Have Changed the Patent Law.

12 Patent Reform.

Appendices.

Appendix A: Trademark and Service Mark Application.

Appendix B: Copyright Application.

Appendix C: Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement.

Appendix D: Invention Assignment Form.

Appendix E: Basic IP Audit Questionnaire.

Appendix F: Patent Valuation.

Appendix G: Invention Disclosure Form.

Appendix H: License Agreements.

Bibliography.

Further Reading.

Index.

Alexander I. Poltorak is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of General Patent Corporation (GPC), an intellectual property (IP) firm focusing on intellectual property strategy and valuation, IP licensing, and enforcement.

Paul J. Lerner is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of General Patent Corporation (GPC). He coauthored Essentials of Licensing Intellectual Property, as well as articles in Intellectual Property Worldwide, Patent Strategy & Management, and Managing Intellectual Property.