(63d) Patents 201: A User-Guide to Patents in the Energy Industry

Many past AIChE presentations
relating to patent law have focused on the basics of patentability.  The purpose of this presentation is to help
chemical engineers and their management understand how to use their patents, and
how to avoid common pitfalls associated with competitors' patent portfolios. Specific
topics that will be covered include:

·        
Patent licenses (should I grant one, do I need one
from someone else);

·        
Enforcement of patents (how to stop an infringer);

·        
Obtaining defensive patents for R&D work (why
the costs are usually justified);

·        
Freedom-to-operate opinions (do I need one,
yes);

·        
Merger and acquisition due diligence (caveat
emptor); and

·        
Anatomy of a ?strong? patent portfolio.   

This presentation is targeted for a mixed audience with
technical, business, and legal backgrounds, and will include real-life examples
from my experiences counseling and litigating in the petrochemical and biofuels industries.