This concise introduction to international patent law and global patent perspectives combines legal and economic considerations to achieve a unique and balanced presentation of the subject. The book places particular emphasis on recent modification to European patent law, as well as the peculiarities of U.S. law. Includes contributions from Rolf Sander, Tobias Boeckh, Jan Dirk Heerma, and Christoph Regierer, as well as the primary authors.

From the Preface: “...[This book] provides an introduction to the world of creating value through inventions...Readers are given a clear view of patents as a rational business process, and are presented with a toolbox with which to make careful assessment of the time and money that inventions warrant, concentrating on an assessment of risk, and within this framework, on maximising both value and personal return. From these carefully elaborated fundamental principles, we progress to address more complex and sophisticated issues of intellectual property strategic planning and wider corporate strategy...”

Target Audience: Scientists, engineers, managers, inventors, patent agents, and financiers in the chemical industry.

Table of Contents:

Terminology

The Economic Objectives of Protection

Patenting

Ownership

Trademarks and Designs

Licensing

Starting Up and Financing Your Venture

The Importance of Business Structures to the Exploitation of IP

List of Annexes

Index