Patent Law delivers a succinct, single-volume explanation of the principal legal doctrines, key judicial authority, governing statutes, and guiding policy considerations in obtaining and enforcing a U.S. patent. The text breaks down the often abstract and complex statutes and cases into understandable pieces. A final chapter addresses central aspects of international patent law as they affect U.S. practice. Written at an appropriate level for students with or without technical backgrounds, Patent Law is suitable for use with any patent casebook. A valuable reference for students who go on to careers in IP law, the text is helpful in preparing students who choose to take the Patent Office's registration exam. Patent law terms of art are highlighted in boldface type throughout the text and defined in a glossary for quick reference. Visual aids and a sample patent with its prosecution history help students through the course. The Fourth Edition introduces a new chapter explaining the complex America Invents Act of 2011, the most significant change in U.S. patent law in years. The updated text includes key recent Supreme Court cases and Federal Circuit cases such as Mayo v. Prometheus (U.S. 2012) on patent-eligible subject matter and Therasense v. Becton Dickinson (Fed. Cir. 2011) (en banc) on inequitable conduct. Features: succinct, single-volume explanation principal legal doctrines key judicial authority governing statutes guiding policy considerations in obtaining and enforcing a U.S. patent. breaks down abstract and complex patent statutes and cases into understandable text last chapter addresses international patent law s affect on U.S. practice . for students with or without technical backgrounds suitable for use with any patent casebook helpful in preparing to take the Patent Office's registration exam highlights patent law terms of art in boldface type and defines them in a glossary for quick reference visual aids illuminate the text includes a sample patent and its prosecution history valuable reference for students who go on to careers in IP law Thoroughly updated, the revised Fourth Edition presents: new chapter explaining the complex America Invents Act of 2011, the most significant change in U.S. patent law in years key recent Supreme Court cases and Federal Circuit cases Mayo v. Prometheus (U.S. 2012) (patent-eligible subject matter) Therasense v. Becton Dickinson (Fed. Cir. 2011) (en banc ) (inequitable conduct)