Unpredictable Arts: Patenting Bio, Chem, and Emerging Technologies

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Think your innovation is sufficiently enabled to secure, defend, and assert your patent rights? If it’s a biological, chemical, or emerging technology invention then you might want to think again. In today’s episode we’re looking into how to get more predictable results from the unpredictable arts.

Some technologies, like those rooted in physics and mechanics, are considered “predictable” by the US Patent Office, while others, like biological and chemical technologies, are generally considered “unpredictable.” It follows that the amount of disclosure required to enable an invention is related to the predictability of the technology, and so-called unpredictable arts require more description to teach a reader how to “make and use” the technology. Similarly, emerging technologies, being less well known, also require more disclosure to be fully enabled.
In this month’s episode, David Jackrel, President of Jackrel Consulting, leads a discussion along with our all star patent panel, exploring enablement for the unpredictable arts and emerging technologies. The panel discusses peculiarities of patenting unpredictable art and emerging technologies, with a focus on modern case law and statutes to arrive at a set of best practices for getting more predictable results when patenting these technologies.
Dave is also joined today by our always exceptional group of IP experts including:
⦿ Dr. Ashley Sloat, President and Director of Patent Strategy at Aurora
⦿ Kristen Hansen, Patent Strategist at Aurora
⦿ Shelley Couturier, Patent Strategist and Search Specialist
Before joining the group, as we often do, we’d like to provide a short primer on some key concepts in this episode for those newer to the world of patenting. This primer covers:
⦿ Section 112
⦿ What is the MPEP?
⦿ Specification vs. Claims
⦿ Genus vs. Species Claims
⦿ Markush Groups

** Resources **
⦿ Show Notes: https://www.aurorapatents.com/blog/predictable-results-from-unpredictable-arts
⦿ Slides: https://www.aurorapatents.com/uploads/9/8/1/1/98119826/unpredictable_art.pdf
⦿ MPEP: https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/index.html
⦿ How to Read Chemical and Drug Patents: https://www.aurorapatents.com/blog/how-to-read-chemical-and-drug-patents
** Follow Aurora Consulting **
⦿ Home: https://www.aurorapatents.com/
⦿ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuroraPatents
⦿ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurora-cg/
⦿ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurorapatents/
⦿ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurorapatents/

And as always, thanks for listening!
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Note: The contents of this podcast

Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Episode Primer (00:03:14)

3. Section 112: Enablement (00:03:21)

4. What is the MPEP? (00:03:37)

5. Specification vs. Claims (00:04:30)

6. Genus vs. Species Claims (00:04:57)

7. Markush Groups (00:05:34)

8. Panel Overview (00:07:12)

9. What is enablement? (00:07:46)

10. Predictability and Enablement (00:10:52)

11. Unpredictable Art and Emerging Technologies (00:13:09)

12. Predictable vs. Unpredictable Art Examples (00:14:19)

13. Unpredictable Art: Chemical and Biological Technologies Advantages and Burdens (00:20:12)

14. Case Law: KSR (00:29:36)

15. Detailed Description and Supporting Examples (00:37:47)

16. Unpredictable Arts: Best Practices (00:40:07)

17. Emerging Technologies (00:41:13)

18. Emerging Technologies and Enablement (00:42:01)

19. Case Law: Automotive Technologies International v. BMW of North America (00:43:53)

20. Case Law: Sitrick vs. Dreamworks (00:52:13)

21. Emerging Technologies: Best Practices (00:53:33)

22. Outro (01:03:40)