Lawrence Pinsky (w/ permission of Greg R. Vetter)

Intellectual Property Survey, (Evening Section) Fall 2013

Course Description

This course covers domestic intellectual property laws - patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret - through statues and cases. It is designed to afford the student who intends to practice in other areas an acquaintance with key IP issues, principles and doctrine, and to provide the intellectual property and information law specialist an introduction to the overall subject. The course will provide roughly equal treatment of patent, copyright and trademark law, approximately four weeks for each, with the remainder applied to the law of trade secrets, introduction, and/or review.

Generally Applicable Syllabus Information

Please read carefully the Generally Applicable Syllabus Information. This document sets forth course policy for attendance, preparation and participation, use of computers, examination and grading, and other items. A complete understanding of this document is necessary to take full meaning from the Class Schedule and Other Information set forth immediately below.

Class Schedule and Other Information

Name:

Intellectual Property Survey

Course # / Section #:

5201 / 24770

Place:

[__]

Time:

Monday, 5:30 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. (1 class session per week, 2 credit hours) For each class session, we will hold class until 7:25 p.m. ,which gains two class periods in consideration of the cancellation days listed below.

UHLC Listing:

http://www.law.uh.edu/schedule/class_information.asp?cid=24770

 

Required Text:

Casebook file given by the link below.

Supplement?:

There is no requirement to purchase a statutory supplement.

Prerequisites

None.

Grading:

The course grade will be primarily based on an open-materials final exam.

"Primarily" means that at least 95% of the course grade will be based on the final exam. Probably 100% of the course grade will be based on the final exam, but I want to have given notice of the possibility of a small percentage of the grade coming from other sources, most likely one or more small exercises.

Notwithstanding the above, my assessment of your in-class participation performance will not be a component of your grade.

Brief Description of Coverage:

The coverage goal is approximately fifty pages per week. Assignments will be detailed in the table below as the semester progresses.

 

Absences Limit:

Assuming two class meetings a week, six or less absences constitutes attendance meeting the eighty percent requirement. More than six absences means that the eighty percent requirement is not met.
Attendance will be taken via a roll sheet passed throughout the class each session.

"Pick your seat" seating chart date:

The first Thursday class session during the first week of class:
- Thursday, August 29, 2013.

 

Final Exam Date/Time:

Thursday, December 12, 2013; 1-3 p.m.

Final Exam Information:

Final Exam information will be distributed in class…

First day/week's assignment:

Read this course web page, the linked Generally Applicable Syllabus Information, and the assignments detailed in the table below for the first day/week of class.

 

Class Evaluation Day

{ forthcoming }

Audio Recording of Class Sessions

I have no plans to record the lectures, but I give my permission for any registered member of the class to record them for their own personal use so long as the contents are not distributed via any means to any other individual who is not a registered member of this class, and so long as they recordings are deleted and or otherwise destroyed immediately after the final exam.

Cancellation Day(s)

Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013

Makeup for Cancelled Day:

Monday, November 25, 2013

Two makeup days are gained by running class an extra 15 minutes, until 7:25 p.m., for each of the 12 class meetings.  So far only one makeup class is anticipated so long as the extra 15-minute extensions for the existing 12 meetings are held.  We will also hold a class on Friday, Sept. 13 to cover the final day of missed cancelled classes…

Contact Information and Office Hours

These are posted on my home page at:

http://www.uh.edu/~lpinsky/

Course Materials Links by Category

The links below are for general reference and may be used for some class assignments.

Patent Law

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Patent Page
  • Selected patent law sections from 35 U.S.C. xxx extracted from the U.S. PTO consolidated laws

Copyright Law

  • United States Copyright Office
  • U.S. Copyright Office web page for the U.S. Copyright Statute  
  • Chap. 1: Subject Matter and Scope of Copyright (selected sections)
  • Chap. 2: Copyright Ownership and Transfer
  • Chap. 4: Copyright Notice, Deposit, and Registration
  • Chap. 5: Copyright Infringement and Remedies  

Trademark Law

  • United States PTO Trademarks Page
  • Lanham Act

Course Coverage Table

The tables immediately below provide the detailed assignments for this course. It also may provide links to materials for each class and other items related to the course. In order to allow flexibility in the class, assignments beyond those posted for the next week are subject to change; therefore, students who may wish to read ahead are urged to contact the professor before doing so. The rate of progress through the modules depends on the class dynamics.

Class presentation slides are provided as links below in association with each module title. I will generally have the slides available a day or two before a class session. If students want hardcopy of the slides for use during class, please download and print the linked slides file.

Case names are listed in the table below as assignments.

Note: the casebook for the course will be a .pdf file that is password protected due to the prepublication nature of the materials. For the 8 character (no numbers) password, please check whatever email you gave to the UH central campus, or contact me by email at:  pinsky@uh.edu.

Course casebook link: here

The page numbers given below will be slightly adjusted near the start of the class to correspond with the final form of the prepublication casebook.

Assignment

Start Page

Comment/Notes

Date

Introduction

Aug. 26

Copying - INS v. AP, 248 U.S. 215 (1918)     

12-23

Public Domain / IP / Misappropriation

23-30

 

 

Assignments - Trade Secrets

Start Page

Comment/Notes

Date

Information that Qualifies as a TS - Stenstrom Petroleum Svs. Grp, Inc. v. Mesch, 874 N.E.2d 959 (Ill. App. 2007)

41-49

 

Sept. 9

Secrecy & Reasonable Efforts to Preserve It

50

Ownership of TS Information - SI Handling Systems, Inc. v. Heisley, 753 F.2d 1244 (3rd Cir. 1985)

51-54

 

UTSA Scenarios; Problem

54

 

Misappropriation

54-56

 

Ed Nowogroski Insurance, Inc. v. Rucker, 971 P.2d 936 (Wash. 1999)

56-60

Misappropriation - Improper Means -

BondPro Corp. v. Siemens Pwr Gen., Inc., 463 F.3d 702 (7th Cir. 2006)

60-61

 

Misappropriation - Improper Means - Dupont v. Christopher 431 F.2d 1012 (5th Cir. 1970)

61-67

 

Misappropriation Problem

67-68

Remedies

69-70

 

 

Assignments - Patents

Start Page

Comment/Notes

Date

Introduction

92-95

Friday Sept. 13

Diamond v. Chakrabarty, 447 U.S. 303 (1980)

95-102

 

Madey v. Duke Univ., 307 F.3d 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2002)

103-111

 

Problem

111-112

 

eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C., 547 U.S. 388 (2006)

112-118

 

Other Types of Patents

118-119

 

Claims & Claim Scope

120-127

 

-

Example Patent

128-135

 

Claim Interpretation - Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc)

136-138

 

Problem

148-149

 

Chapter 6 Introduction

150-153

Sept. 16

Definiteness - Halliburton Energy Servs. v. M-I LLC, 514 F.3d 1244 (Fed. Cir 2008)

153-161

 

Enablement - CFMT, Inc. v. YieldUp Int’l Corp., 349 F.3d 1333 (2003)

161-167

 

-

Written Description - Gentry Gallery v. Berkline Corp., 134 F.3d 1473 (Fed. Cir. 1998)

n/a

7 pages omitted - not assigned

Problems 1 and 3

176-177

 

Chapter 7 Introduction

178

 

"Product" claims - Assn. of Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics ---U.S.---(2013)

179-187

Process claims - Bilski v. Kappos, 130 S. Ct. 3218 (2010)

187-198

 

Utility - Juicy Whip, Inc. v. Orange Bang, Inc., 185 F.3d 1364 (Fed. Cir. 1999)

199-205

 

Problems 1, 2

205-206

 removed problem 4 from coverage

Chapter 8 Introduction - Prior Art

207-210

 

Anticipation by a Printed Publication - In re Hall, 781 F.2d 897 (Fed. Cir. 1986)

211-215

 

Novelty Defeating Disclosures and Priority

215-219

 

Public Use - Egbert v. Lippmann, 104 U.S. 333 (1881)

220-224

An article of possible interest relating to this case.

-Sept. 30

Experimental Use Negation of Public Use - City of Elizabeth v. Am. Nicholson Pavement Co., 97 U.S. 126 (1877)

225-230

 

On Sale Bar - Pfaff v. Wells Elecs, 525 U.S. 55 (1998)

n/a

5 pages omitted - not assigned

Problems

234-237

omit problems 8 and 9

preAIA section 102

n/a

5 pages omitted - not assigned 

Obviousness - use of mutiple references

241-242

 

Graham v. John Deere Co. of Kansas City, 383 U.S. 1 (1966)

n/a

8 pages omitted - not assigned 

KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398 (2007)

250-263

 

"Secondary" Considerations

263-264

 

Analagous Arts - In re Bigio, 381 F.3d 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2004)

264-266

 

Problems

267-268

 

Literal Infringement - Johnson & Johnston Assocs. v. R.E. Serv. Co., No. C 03-2549 SBA (N.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2005)

269-273

 

Oct. 7

DOE - Warner-Jenkinson Co. v. Hilton Davis Chem. Co., 520 U.S. 17 (1997)

273-281

 

Dedication - Johnson & Johnston Assocs. v. R.E. Serv. Co., 285 F.3d 1046 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (en banc)

281-287

 

PHE - Festo Corp. v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Co., 535 U.S. 722 (2002)

n/a

omitted - not assigned 

Problems 1 - 4

296-297

 

 

Assignments - Copyright

Start Page

Comment/Notes

Date

 

Introduction - The Copyright Divide

304-308

 

Oct. 7

Justifications - Mazer v. Stein, 347 U.S. 201 (1954)

309-315

 

Technological Challenges - A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc., 239 F.3d 1004 (9th Cir. 2001)

315-323

 

Duration - Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003)

323-332

Oct. 14

Statutory Subject Matter - Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony, 111 U.S. 53 (1884)

333-338

 

Bleistein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co., 188 U.S. 239 (1903)

338-342

 

Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc., 499 U.S. 340 (1991)

342-351

 

-

Baker v. Selden, 101 U.S. 99 (1879)

352-357

 

Authorship - James D.A. Boyle, The Search for an Author: Shakespeare and the Framers, 37 AM. U. L. REV. 625 (1988)

358-363

 

Joint Works - Thomson v. Larson, 147 F.3d 195 (2d Cir. 1998)

364-370

 

Works made for Hire - Hays v. Sony Corp. of America, 847 F.2d 412 (7th Cir. 1988)

371-375

 

Collective Works - New York Times Co. v. Tasini, 533 U.S. 483 (2001)

376-387

 

-

Fixation & Formalities

388-390

Hasbro v. Sparkle (2d. 1985)

391-395

4 pages omitted - not assigned 

Oct. 21

Publication

395-396

1 page omitted - not assigned 

Reproduction Right - Grand Upright Music Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records, Inc., 780 F. Supp. 182 (1991)

397-400

Derivative Work Right - Castle Rock Entertainment, Inc. v. Carol Pub. Group, Inc., 150 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 1998)

400-406

 

Distribution Right - Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus, 210 U.S. 339 (1908)

406-409

 

Public Performance Right - Twentieth Century Music Corp. v. Aiken, 422 U.S. 151 (1975)

409-414

 

Public Display Right / Digital Transmission Right

415-416

 

-

Moral Rights - Gilliam v. ABC, 538 F.2d. 14 (2d. 1976)

416-425

9 pages omitted - not assigned 

Fair Use

426

 

Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 (1984)

427-437

 

Harper & Row Publishers, Inc. v. Nation Enterprises, 471 U.S. 539 (1985)

437-447

 

Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 569 (1994)

447-456

 

Nov. 4

Direct Infringement - Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions, Inc. v. McDonald’s Corp., 562 F.2d 1157 (9th Cir. 1977)

457-463

 

Three Boys Music Corp. v. Bolton, 212 F.3d 477 (9th Cir. 2000)

464-469

 

Contributory and Vicarious Infringement - Fonovisa, Inc. v. Cherry Auction, Inc., 76 F.3d 259 (9th Cir. 1996)

omitted, along with all material in Copyright after this case

 

 

Assignments - Trademarks

Start Page

Comment/Notes

Date

Introduction

525-527

 

Nov. 4

Mishawaka Rubber & Woolen Mfg. Co. v. S. S. Kresge Co. 316 US 203 (1942)

527-530

 

Beating Global Monopolists at Their Own Marketing Game

530-532

 

David B. Findlay, Inc. v. Findlay, 218 NE2d 531 (NY Ct App. 1966)

532-535

 

Mattel Inc. v. Walking Mountain Productions, 353 F.3d 792 (9th Cir. 2003)

535-538

 

Nov. 11

In re Morton Norwich Products, Inc., 671 F.2d 1332 (CCPA 1982)

539-544

 

Additional Trademark Law Background

544-555

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. v. Hunting World, Inc., 537 F.2d 4 (2d Cir. 1976)

556-564

 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame v. Gentile Productions, 134 F.3d 749 (6th Cir. 1998)

564-570

6 pages omitted - not assigned 

Acquired Distinctiveness

571-574

 

A.J. Canfield Company v. Honickman, 808 F.2d 291 (3rd Cir. 1986)

574-583

 

In re Budge Manufacturing Co. 857 F.2d 773 (Fed. Cir. 1988)

584-587

 

Nov. 18

In re Old Glory Condom Corp., 26 USPQ.2d 1216 (TTAB 1993)

587-591

 

Harjo v. Pro-Football, Inc., 50 USPQ2d 1705 (TTAB 1999)

591-600

 

In re California Innovations, Inc., 329 F3d 1334 (Fed. Cir. 2003)

603-609

7 pages omitted - not assigned 

Surnames, Confusion and Other Grounds for Refusal

609-611

 

Maryland Stadium Authority v. Becker, 806 F.Supp. 1236 (D. Md. 1992)

612-617

 

Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. v. Thrift Cars, Inc., 831 F.2d 1177 (1st Cir. 1987)

618-624

 

 

Exxon Corporation v. Humble Exploration Company, Inc., 695 F2d 96 (5th Cir. 1983)

625-630

 

Dec, 2

Infringement - Confusion

636-640

 

 

McGregor-Doniger Inc. v. Drizzle Inc., 599 F.2d 1126 (2d Cir. 1979)

640-646

 

 

Harlem Wizards Entertainment Basketball, Inc v. NBA Properties, Inc., 952 F. Supp. 1084 (DNJ 1997)

647-661

 

 

Dilution - Visa Int’l Service Assn. v. JSL Corp., 590 F.Supp.2d 1306 (D. Nev. 2008)

664-671

 

 

Remedies remarks

671-672

 

 

Limitations - Classic Fair Use - KP Permanent Make-Up, 543 US 111 (2004)

674-678

 

 

Limitations - Nominative Fair Use - New Kids on the Block v. News America Pub., Inc., 971 F2d 302 (9th Cir. 1992)

678-684

 

 

(Review For Final Exam)  { end of class assignments }

 

 

 

 

 

Last modified on August 15, 2013, by Lawrence Pinsky