6.2 Intellectual Property Law Research

Intellectual property law protects creations of the mind. It covers patents for inventions, trademarks for brand identities, and copyrights for creative works. Understanding these areas is crucial for researchers navigating the complex landscape of innovation and creativity.

Researching intellectual property involves specialized databases and resources. The USPTO offers patent and trademark databases, while the Copyright Office maintains copyright records. Commercial databases and international sources provide additional tools for comprehensive IP research.

Intellectual Property Law Areas

Patents

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• Patent law protects new, useful, and non-obvious inventions, such as machines, processes, manufactures, and compositions of matter
• Grants the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell the invention for a limited period
• Types of patents:
  • Utility patents: Protect the functional aspects of an invention (most common type)
  • Design patents: Protect the ornamental design of a functional item
  • Plant patents: Protect new varieties of plants

Trademarks

• Trademark law protects words, phrases, symbols, or designs that identify and distinguish the source of goods or services
• Prevents consumer confusion and protects the goodwill associated with a brand
• Trademarks can be registered at the federal level (nationwide protection) or the state level
• Common law trademark rights arise from actual use in commerce without registration

Copyrights

• Copyright law protects original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression (literary works, musical works, dramatic works, artistic works)
• Grants the author exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works
• Copyright protection arises automatically upon creation of the work; registration is not required but provides additional benefits
• Duration is generally the life of the author plus 70 years

Intellectual Property Databases

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Databases

• PatFT (Patents Full-Text and Image Database): Full-text searching of patents from 1976 to present, plus limited searching of older patents
• AppFT: Covers published patent applications from 2001 to present
• TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System): Database for searching federal trademark registrations and applications

U.S. Copyright Office Database

• Online database of copyright registrations and documents recorded since 1978
• Pre-1978 records must be searched onsite at the Copyright Office

Commercial Databases

• Westlaw and LexisNexis offer extensive coverage of intellectual property materials (cases, administrative decisions, secondary sources)
• Specialized tools for patent and trademark searching

Additional Resources

• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) databases for international coverage
• USPTO's Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) and Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP)
• Subject-specific treatises

Applying Intellectual Property Law

Patent Law Sources

• Primary sources: Patent Act (35 U.S.C.), USPTO regulations (37 C.F.R.), federal court decisions
• Key statutes:
  • 35 U.S.C. §§ 101-103: Patentability requirements
  • 35 U.S.C. § 112: Specification requirements
  • 35 U.S.C. §§ 271-273: Infringement and defenses

Trademark Law Sources

• Primary sources: Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1051-1141n), USPTO regulations, federal court decisions
• Important provisions:
  • 15 U.S.C. § 1052: Grounds for refusal
  • 15 U.S.C. § 1114: Infringement of registered marks
  • 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a): False designation of origin

Copyright Law Sources

• Primary sources: Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.), Copyright Office regulations, federal court decisions
• Key sections:
  • 17 U.S.C. § 102: Subject matter of copyright
  • 17 U.S.C. § 106: Exclusive rights
  • 17 U.S.C. §§ 107-122: Limitations and exceptions
  • 17 U.S.C. §§ 501-513: Infringement and remedies

Analyzing Intellectual Property Issues

• Parse relevant statutory language
• Apply pertinent regulations and agency guidance
• Synthesize case law to determine governing legal principles
• Landmark Supreme Court cases shape interpretation and application of intellectual property laws (Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank, Matal v. Tam, Google v. Oracle)

Researching Intellectual Property Issues

Patent Research Considerations

• Type of patent, filing or priority date, stage of prosecution
• Searches may involve locating prior art, assessing novelty and non-obviousness, or determining scope of protection
• Key resources: USPTO databases, MPEP, patent classification systems, prior art databases, file histories, court decisions on claim construction and infringement

Trademark Research Considerations

• Assessing likelihood of confusion, evaluating distinctiveness, determining availability for use and registration
• Relevant factors: Similarity of marks and goods/services, strength of the mark, evidence of actual confusion
• Key resources: TESS, TMEP, USPTO Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual, trademark registrations and applications, court decisions on infringement and distinctiveness

Copyright Research Considerations

• Copyrightability, ownership, fair use, infringement
• Investigate originality of a work, analyze scope of exclusive rights, assess whether a use qualifies as a permissible exception
• Key resources: Copyright Office records, Copyright Act, Copyright Compendium, court decisions on fair use and infringement, industry-specific guidelines

General Research Tips

• Use secondary sources (treatises, practice guides, law review articles) for background information and analysis to guide primary law research
• Citators (Shepard's, KeyCite) help ensure cases and statutes are still good law