The seminar will cover topics not usually covered in patent law courses. For the first eight weeks, the course will address advanced topics and new developments in the law. The topics will be addressed in more depth than in typical courses and will include policy considerations. There will likely be one guest speaker that will present on a special topic.
For the rest of the term, the students will select topics, choose the readings, and lead the discussion. Topic selection will require instructor approval. Students will also be expected to write a term paper on the same topic as the one chosen for presentation.
Prerequisites: It is recommended that the student be concurrently taking or has taken a course that includes patent law (which could be a survey course). This Seminar used to require such a course as a prerequisite. In recent years, a number of students without that prerequisite have taken the course and have participated in class discussions, and otherwise performed as well as people who had the prerequisite. Thus, the prerequisite has been removed. If you have not had patent law or a survey that covers patent law, you will need to do some extra reading to understand the topics we are talking about in class. Those in this position should contact the instructor a few weeks prior to the start of classes for some recommended treatises.
Wille, David G.