ESP Wiki is looking for moderators and active contributors!
Patent governance
Revision as of 19:00, 21 May 2010 by Ciaran (talk | contribs) (→Courts: :''(See German patent courts and appeals and USA patent courts and appeals)'')
Patent law goverance is generally concentrated in three places:
- The legislation
- The patent office
- The court
Legislation
In many cases, the legislation is open to interpretation. Patent lawyers have made a science of finding ways to get more patents via innovative interpretations of legislation.
Patent offices
Patent offices (without any well-known exception) make a profit on applications that they approve.
Courts
The decisions of the courts are the most important.
Many court cases, even among non-USA companies, take place in the USA. (See forum shopping)
Other institutions
Other institutions can have a role, such as the United States International Trade Commission, to which some patent holders apply hoping to block imports and exports from the USA of competitors' products.