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Clarity in U.S. Patent Law: How Far Will the Pendulum Swing?

June 2016
Intellectual PropertyIT

Abstract

A number of recent US decisions suggest an ongoing trend toward requiring that US patents provide increased clarity and specificity in describing and claiming what has been invented. It is important to not only stay abreast of the current state of the US law, but to anticipate where the law may go in the near future. For example, it is important to balance the desire for broad patent coverage against the risks of this emerging trend, particularly when attempting to maximize the value of patent portfolios. Once the potential risks are understood, strategic patent portfolio planning and careful patent application drafting can be employed to help mitigate the risks.

Authors

Portrait image of Eric Curtin
Eric Curtin
Attorney, Crawford Maunu PLLC, USA

Eric Curtin is a patents attorney at Crawford Maunu. His respective practice includes the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in multiple fields, litigation, and client counseling. Eric also assists clients in the procurement of trademarks and copyrights.

Portrait image of Robert Pechman
Robert Pechman
Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Seagate Technology LLC, USA

Bob Pechman, as Chief IP Counsel at Seagate Technology LLC, leads a global team that focuses on business-aligned strategic patent portfolio development.

Portrait image of Shane Sondreal
Shane Sondreal
Attorney at Law, Crawford Maunu PLLC, USA

Shane Sondreal is a patents attorney at Crawford Maunu. His technical background is in electrical engineering. His practice includes the preparation and prosecution of patent applications not only in the electrical arts, but in various fields as well as in litigation and client counseling.

Companies

Crawford Maunu PLLC logo

Crawford Maunu PLLC

Crawford Maunu is an intellectual property law firm in the Minneapolis, Minnesota region, which assists clients from coast-to-coast and around the world in patent, trademark and copyright protection, including the preparation and prosecution of patent and trademark applications as well as matters of litigation, licensing and portfolio management.

Seagate Technology LLC logo

Seagate Technology LLC

Seagate delivers advanced digital storage solutions to meet the needs of today’s consumers and tomorrow’s applications. Through technology, leadership and innovation, Seagate continues to help individuals and businesses maximize the potential of their digital content in an ever-evolving, on-demand world.

Crawford Maunu PLLC

Crawford Maunu is an intellectual property law firm in the Minneapolis, Minnesota region, which assists clients from coast-to-coast and around the world in patent, trademark and copyright protection, including the preparation and prosecution of patent and trademark applications as well as matters of litigation, licensing and portfolio management.

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