US Patent Law for European Patent Professionals: a new book

US Patent Law for European Patent Professionals, by Audrey Nemeth, is an extremely handy volume for those of us who, being based in Europe, are obliged to keep an eye on developments in the United States on a piecemeal basis but who do not have the luxury of the time to gain a proper appreciation of this complex, important patent culture -- a culture that is so alien and out-of-step in the eyes of those from that small insignificant domain called The Rest of the World.

This is what the publishers say about the book:

This is the first book that has been designed to make communication between European and US patent law professionals more comprehensible.

It explains exactly what is required at every stage of a patent proceeding in the United States, helping European patent professionals understand and act upon the facts. It ensures that both parties have a common understanding of basic US legal terms, and that you – a EU practitioner – will understand the available courses of action for the most common procedural scenarios.

United States patent law, like the European Patent Convention (EPC), is based on a hierarchical code of statutes, regulations and administrative guidelines. However, there are numerous important distinctions, which you’ll need to know if you are looking to successfully protect and leverage intellectual property in the United States.

This highly practical and detailed work is divided into five main parts, covering the basics of US patent law, prosecution of US applications, US patent and post grant proceedings, procedural elements, and advanced topics.

The author, who is Europe-based herself, does not merely describe the framework of the US system and its manner of operation; she leads readers towards the US from the elements of the European system which she can rely on as being familiar to readers, or at least resonating with them. That is not to say that this book is of no value to non-Europeans, since its clear, concise and undramatic description and explanations will benefit anyone who wants an overview of the US law -- especially in its post America Invents Act phase -- and who can set aside a relatively modest amount of time to sit down and read it.  The text is nearly devoid of footnotes, but references to the patent statute (35 USC) are more than adequate for anyone who wants to measure the author's text against the primary legal source.

The focus of the book is principally on the side of patent law that deals with USPTO-facing activities, which can best be compared with EPO-facing activities in Europe; it is not, and does not pretend to be, an infringement litigation manual. But that is its strength and its justification.

Bibliographic data: hardback, xxviii + 215 pages. ISBN 9789041160447. Book's web page here

You can read Audrey Nemeth's blogpost introducing this book on the Kluwer Patent Blog here.