Intellectual Property Books

Wow, Joy Butler has just made our lives easier. The Permission Seeker's Guide Through the Legal Jungle is a user-friendly, detailed, wealth of knowledge for authors, producers and anyone who wants to use copyrighted material. I've written 4 books and had to wind my way through the jungle of permissions on my own, which was tedious and painful (news flash, your publisher doesn't track that stuff down for you and YOU are legally responsible for any inapporpriate use of material your use in your books and productions.) Thank you Joy for making every book I write in the future a breeze with your book now on my shelf right next to my desk.

Joy Butler's The Permission Seeker's Guide Through the Legal Jungle arrived promptly and I was blown away. The guide expertly covers rights, clearance issues, how to obtain clearance, minimizing risksThe Permission Seeker's Guide Through the Legal Jungle: Clearing Copyrights, Trademarks and Other Rights for Entertainment and Media Productions (Guide Through the Legal Jungle). It also has a section at the end for resources and forms. Butler enables the reader to navigate through complex issues with ease. Her style is comfortable. You can pick it up and read straight through or skip to the sections that are of immediate concern.

This book should be required reading for all of us creative industries. Sure wish I'd had it earlier!

Shannon Grissom
Author: Monkey Made of Sockies
Television Producer: Give Your Walls Some Soul!

Joy R. Butler is endlessly impressive as she charts and details all of the legal choices, decisions and ramifications behind being a producer: that higher stage of artist which combines talent and inspiration with the realities of the global marketplace. This is, definitely, a book for the artist who is taking their craft and their lives to that next level.

The degree to which she covers virtually every subject that could be covered re copyrights, permissions, trademarks, etc. is daunting. The book in fact is so detailed and voluminous that being shellshocked or momentarily disheartened as an artist will be inevitable. Showing once again how litigious our society is, amongst her many examples of interpretations of the law--and what artists and producers must contend with in that context--include the following: a treasured Muslim friend & assistant of Spike Lee unexpectedly suing him for the right to be considered a co-writer of his masterpiece MALCOLM X; and Eminem's fourth grade bully suing him to get a share of a song written about him being overcome later in life after it broke the Billboard charts! (And we wonder why stars can be so aloof.)

Butler does say at the outset, however, that there may be big chunks of the book not designed for you, given your artistic specialty. And indeed, every artistic specialty is covered: from visual arts to computer arts; dance to drama; music of all genres to literary works; videos to commercials, TV, cinema and documentaries.

You may walk away from this book thinking as I do: I gotta hire her as my lawyer! But either way, in the end, you'll walk away from this book feeling inspired, as the wealth of information provided supplies you with new ways to approach your work--beginning with the degree to which it is or isn't dependent on the inspiration and marketable work of others. Knowing your options regarding trademarks, copyrights, and other rights to use or transform works that have either come before you or are part of your individual and unique production teaches you how to think big time--really big time--as an artist. And helps make the inevitable success associated with taking this mindset on possible.

Highly recommended.

Serendipitously, I received entertainment and business attorney, Joy R. Butler's "The Permission Seeker's Guide through the Legal Jungle" when a good friend of mine was in the process of designing and launching his website. Knowing that he had some trademark issues ( he had recently come up with a logo for his goods and services and wanted to protect his intellectual property) I promptly handed over this book and awaited a detailed synopsis of his first hand experience with it.

His comments exceeded my initial impression of this guide. While my reading of the book revealed a tightly crafted compendium of situations and solutions that arise during the identification and elimination of rights clearance problems in media production ----think anything through which people communicate and express themselves i.e., film, video, television programs, newspapers, magazines, posters, computer games, comic books, paintings, photographs, fine art, advertisements, websites, sculptures, books, etc.--my friend's opinion waxed practical as he followed the steps to insure that his production contained no material that violated the rights of another person.

Specifically, he wanted to use a song and CD photo on a website that he had heard on a CD and change key lyrics to reflect and promote his product and personal enterprise. Author Butler explains how to identify the rights owner - in this case the owner of the recording and the photographer of the photograph used on the CD cover----and how to seek permission to use the music and the photo. Using Butler's techniques, my friend successfully accomplished his mission and both the edited song and the photo appear on his website without the fear of kindling a lengthy expensive and tiresome lawsuit.

Butler's guide is definitely well organized; the summary table of contents, the table of contents and the index lay out with an encyclopedic precision exactly what the book contains. She presents an overall format for using the book, defines and explains relevant rights and laws, relays clearance issues for each media type, details the process of clearing rights and seeking permission, while minimizing risks and protecting oneself from possible lawsuits. Specific information is extremely easy to find within this volume; all topics are comprehensive, well documented and easy to read and comprehend with procedural information as well as examples of up-to-date cases and court rulings.

Bottom Line? On a real and practical level, Joy R. Butler's "The Permission Seeker's Guide through the Legal Jungle" provides a wealth of information that every writer and publisher should own and reference to avoid rights clearance problems in any media production. Recommended highly for all those who need to know the law and make it work in their favor.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"

This book is written for publishers, writers, visual artists, muscians, music producers, film & TV producers, producers of Web sites and software, people, celebrities, and businesses. They all have or want intellectual property, and by reading this book they can learn how the commercial licensing of intellectual property works. The book has 28 chapters:

1. Guide to using this book
3. Copyright basics
4. Trademark basics
5. Common elements of privacy, publicity & defamation law
6. Right of privacy
7. Right of publicity
8. Defamation
9. Other relevant rights & laws
16. Getting organized (to seek permission)
17. Putting your own house in order
18. Submitting the request for permission
19. Negotiating the rights agreement
27. Methods of minimizing risks
28. Dealing with lawsuits

2. Checklist of clearance issues
CLEARANCE ISSUES FOR ...
10. Publishers & writers
11. Visual Artists
12. Musicians & music producers
13. Film, TV, & audio-visual producers
14. Producers of Web sites and software
15. Business
CLEARING RIGHTS AND SEEKING PERMISSION ...
20. To use books & other printed material
21. To use visual art
22. To use music
23. To use film, TV, & video footage
24. To use Web site & software materials
25. With respect to people
26. To use trademarks, products, & locations

The numbers above correspond to the chapters as they are sequenced in the book. I have rearranged the chapters in the order in which I would have liked to have seen them included in the book. Also, I would have liked the book better if it had been split into two parts instead of six. Part A would have included the chapters "1-28" as cited herein above. And Part B would have included the chapters "2-26." As a result of the way the book was organized I almost gave it a 4-star rating. But this book really is a gem and full of content.

My favorite chapters were chapters 2 & 3 (intellectual property law) and chapters 6-9 (tort law). And chapters 18 and 19 were really good, too. Clearly much of the book is aimed at topics an entertainment lawyer handles in her legal practice. But from my perspective as a SCORE small business counselor I think chapters 3, 4, 10, 14, 15, 20, and 24-28 are the most relevant to my clients' concerns. 5 stars!

This is one of the most useful books I've read to date on bringing a product to market. It covers all the basics and then some. I have recommended it to all my friends!

People may joke that Tamara Monosoff became a millionaire with the help of suckers like me buying her book. THAT IS NOT THE CASE! She is an extremely intelligent and fascinating woman. If you cannot launch your own business after reading her book, it is in no way Tamara's fault. I am amazed at how much time and effort she obviously devoted to writing this book. Just when I would ask myself a question regarding something she wrote, she was answering it in the very next sentence. The book is FULL of helpful examples, websites, and addresses. I would STRONGLY recommend this book to anyone.

This book is well worth the money. Short and sweet review and gets to the point now go buy this book!

I thought the first thing I needed to do with my invention was make a prototype. NO! Tamera says the first thing I need to do is get a spiral notebook and keep a hand-written ledger of everything I do, chronologically, to protect myself in court. I NEVER would have thought of that.

She explains step by step what to do next and HOW to do it: how to do market research, patent research, etc. But most of all, she gets right to the meat of everything. Tamera does not fill up her pages with fluff to make a dreary fat book. She guides us through the steps and all the way, she recounts how one particular mom handled these steps. She also puts in so many other examples from other mom inventors along the way.

It seems so easy, and she is inspiring. When I was a stay home mom, I felt overwhelmed, and out of touch with the professional world. Husbands and family aren't always necessarily supportive. Tamera says don't let any of that hold you back: you are much smarter than you think, so get that idea to market!

This is such an amazing book. Tons of great information, advice, references, and examples. Reading this book has made me want to start my own business, rather than just try to sell my idea. It is overwhelming, but so exciting at the same time!!! Thank you so much for such an incredible guide!!!!

"The Complete Guide to Securing Your Own U.S. Patent" by Jamaine Burrell takes the inventor on a journey from concept to marketplace, and covers everything else in between.
An easy-to-follow guide, the complicated topic of patenting is simplified by Burell. It offers practical advice and instructions, tips and examples. It will undoubtedly help any inventor learn the ropes of filing, protecting and maintaining a U.S. patent.
Imagine life without the cell phone or home computer. Without those technologies, modern-day life would be very different. For those inventors, patenting was an important process.
With this book, patenting doesn't have to be a mysterious task. Even the lay person can file a patent.
Whether the inventor has created a new medicine, a breed of fruit, machinery, or computer software, they will want to protect their invention and make sure it finds its way to market. This will give them the knowledge to actually do so.
It also discusses copywrites, trade marks and trade secrets. The guide, with companion CD-ROM, could easily help the inventor bring the next big need or necessity into the mainstream.
5 stars

The Complete Guide to Securing Your Own U.S. Patent by Jamaine Burrell is truly a complete reference source for deciphering the puzzle of securing a U.S. patent. At times, the complexity of the process boggled my mind, but the author cuts to the chase and gives good descriptions of legal requirements, definitions, specific info for certain states plus details on the various types of patents, intellectual property, inventions, copyrights and trademarks and more.

After describing many details, he gives complete instructions that would enable a layperson to do a patent search, fill out the applications and save plenty of money in attorney's fees. Of course, it is a long and extremely detailed process that could easily be messed up by not paying strict attention to details. The appendix includes a variety of information, including PTO fees and copyright fees, plus info on countries participating in certain conventions for those who may wish to pursue international patents or copyrights.

Overall, the book gives an excellent overview of the patent process, and I would recommend the do-it-yourself method for the most dedicated of souls, of which I am not one. I would either have to hire an attorney, or miss out on my big patent.

If you've ever had a big idea, then you need this book on Patents. This book thoroughly covers the U.S. Patent process from applying for a patent, to protecting your rights under a patent. I especially found the sections on marketing and making money on inventions and intellectual property very helpful in building my own WEALTH. I feel that the book gave me the new-found ability to transfer my intellectual property into revenue generating assets. I highly recommend this book for anyone who thinks they might have thought of the next big thing.

For anyone who's ever held off on really running with a great idea because the process of getting a patent seemed too daunting, this book is the next best thing to having an expert hold your hand and personally take you through all the steps.

The author begins with a straightforward overview of what the book is designed to do and then follows through on all counts, beginning with the basics of what patents are all about and why they're so important. Also discussed in great detail are the elements of intellectual property, the processes of invention, and the steps to establishing patent ownership, including patent searches, filing a patent application, and protecting your patents. Although the book's main focus is patents, other intellectual property assets including copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets are also covered. Also included is a CD-ROM with all the forms and checklists necessary for filing a patent.

Patent law is complex, and hiring a patent attorney can be costly. This book will not only help inventors protect their inventions and ideas, it can save them money along the way.

This is a study of the patent, what it means and the basics of getting it more than a step-by-step manual starting at the beginning and ending with your putting a Priority Mail application in the slot.

To obtain a patent you do not have to prove that a concept works. You only have to document it in clear, layered language and drawings. The language is critical for the defense of the patent's claims which means that everything gets defined several ways. Thus, "a tube is, a pipe, a hollow conductor or any such enclosure for the transmission of said fluid" instead of just being a tube. Such extra verbiage allows lawyers to spend hours in court arguing over what you meant, said and did not say to run up your bill and make an already cranky judge furious at the other side.

If you are starting from zero, have not been through the process, at least through the searching phase, and clearly know nothing this book is worth the price. It is basic, clearly written and fairly up-to-date. But, the real source in this business is the US Patent and Trademark Office' website. While it is written in the cautious, overstated, layered language of "Bureauspeak" it is understandable to the novice if he has has read 20 or 30 patents, knows his own field well and has paid a few lawyer's bills. Fear of an outrageous bill is compelling motivation in matters of this kind.

There is a place for guide to the USPTO website, but there are so many variations now with so much more patentable, i.e. computer programs, genes, fanciful chemical systems, business models, etc. that such a guide would either have to be an Occam's Razor-like work revealing certain principles or a compendium of the many ways to get through each of the several ways for the kinds of patents now available.

Experience with this area convinces you that patents were created for attorneys instead of inventors. This is an area of law practice that is an open field of strange people with dreams and those who will milk them of their last dollar. After they have their patents in hand most find that no one wants them because they didn't think of the idea first. Ego begins where creation ends and it is like hitting a bedsheet with a stick. You never have an effect, but about 1% of the people who suffer through this process make it work and get to spend hours in court going after the big guys who ripped them off.

This is an excellent introduction on patent law basics. I found it extremely easy to read and understand the concepts of patent law. I will use it as a reference guide in my future analysis of patents. I would strongly recommend this book to those individuals not accustomed to reading patents.

I am Japanese. This book is the best for foreign students or professionals who begin to study US patent law. Plain English and clear points. Thank you!

By far the most useful and best written overview of patent law I have found. Very good as both an introduction for those new to the field and a review for those already involved. Good value for money.

As a non-Japanese person, I found this book to be very clear and concise. Serves as a great starting point for someone wanting to learn a great deal about the current state of US patent law.

I read this, along with many other books from amazon on patent law, in order to prepare for the patent bar exam as inexpensively as possible. Well, as they say, you get what you pay for. I ended up not passing. I used OmniPrep to prepare the second time around, and passed with no problem.

I picked up this book to study for the patent bar exam. I've yet to take the exam so I can't say if this book is appropriate study material, but I can say that it is very well written, concise and easy to understand. It gives a detailed introduction into patent law without becoming too convoluted. Although it looks like a law textbook, it's actually quite enjoyable to read. The author provides excellent examples, from actual court cases, to all points of patent law and the patent process. The glossary at the end is very useful for someone without a background in law, like me. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about patent law.

Although intended for law school students, this title can be very useful for scientific professionals who frequently encounter patent-related issues in today's industrial R&D world. Particularly I find its great value for researchers in the fields of chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

The best feature of the book is that the author successfully breaks down the often abstract and difficult statutes, laws and prosecution into easily understandable texts. She is so good at using specific cases and examples to explain important points that a chemist/biochemist like me can read the book without much difficulty or inconvenience. It has a list of discussed cases where you can find familiar names such as: Amgen, Baker Hughes, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Dow, Eli Lilly, Gen-Probe, Merck, Perkin-Elmer, Pharmacia, etc.

As a textbook in law school, it covers some patent (law) history and its societal impacts which may not be interesting for some practical purposes. It is certainly not a patent examiner's handbook or MPEP, nor is it a preparation book for patent bar exam.

If a chemist wants to quickly grasp some background without reading this 400-page book, I recommend the excellent materials provided by American Chemical Society to its members through its website.

This book is great for preparing for the patent bar. As a scientist (physics background) wanting to take the patent bar, I found this book clear, logical, and easy to read. I was hesitant on buying it for studying for the patent bar after reading some of the reviews. However, I passed the patent bar on my first attempt using only this book and the bullseye prep review notes.

This is a very good intro to patent law. It covers the essentials of 35 USC 101, 102, 103, 112 with clear language and essential case histories. It's not enough to pass the patent bar, but it's an excellent place to get an overview and foundation before going on to more detailed patent bar study materials. It's also good for reviewing concepts for practicing patent professionals. It is focussed mainly on the law, meaning it does not cover many of the administrative issues related to prosecuting patents, but it covers the law well and clearly.
Spying On The College Of Your Choice

Although the purpose of the book is not to prepare readers for the patent bar it does so anyways, especially Chapters 600 and 700 of the MPEP which are the most challenging and analytical and also the most heavily tested. It also goes into the basics of reissue and reixamination as well as international agreements governing patent prosecution.

If you are reading the book solely to prepare for the Patent Bar skip the three chapters at the end on infringement since this involves litigation and is not tested on the exam. I loved the multitude of examples and the history of how the laws were developed. Makes studying for the test a lot more enjoyable.

Finally, here's an all-inclusive, easy-to-understand book about issues of intellectual property, copyright, trademarks, online works, the Fair Use doctrine, contracts, agreements, and more. By using helpful symbols and clearly written descriptions, these legal experts provide, in one volume, a wealth of information critical for authors to know. With a little patience, anyone can understand the information the Evans attorneys provide.

They also cover issues such as privacy, domain names, a brief history of intellectual property law, and information about pending legislation. I found the section on agreements for Publishing, Collaboration, and Licensing especially helpful. I did not realize that each book also comes with a CD-ROM containing sample forms and contracts-an extra added bonus that makes this book an invaluable resource all writers, new and experienced, should invest in. Highly recommended.

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Tonya Marie Evans at the Book Expo of America in Washington DC this year and she is a smart, enthusiastic, driven woman. This book should be required reading for anyone wishing or thinking about writing and publishing a book. This book will help you understand the process in plain english. This book clearly explains complicated legal issues, offers examples and answers your questions. This is a book you will want to keep on your desk and refer back to again and again. I recommend this to each person who sends me a book to review or asks me any type of publishing question.

Literary Law Guide for Authors is my 'gold medal'. I treasure this well-written and VERY easy-to-read book! I've written (self-published) a children's book and currently writing a spiritual anthology. In both cases, I desperately needed contract forms and from searching the internet and communicating briefly with the author, I ordered this book. The forms section (in addition to the CD) included every bit of information I needed to create and provide a professional looking contract. I just can't say enough of this book. TIMELY. WELL-WRITTEN. INFORMATIVE.

buy it!!!

Insightful and Effective would be the best two words to describe the advantages of this book. This book lays out literary law in a non-complex way that is very easy to grasp. Dangerous publishing coups could be avoided by implementing all of the book's stratagies when applicable. The details about electronic rights has really enabled me to see the full value of my children's books. Since reading the book, I surveyed many author friends of mine who unbeknownst to them, had signed away valuable electronic rights that their publisher stand to make a bundle on. Also, being told the vast difference between copyrights and trademarks saved me a lot of money that I would have spent needelessly on protecting my products when in fact I had already taken the proper steps. This book takes the paranoia out of negotiating with publishers and has taught me the precious lesson of knowing that everything is truly negotiable, especially when it's your property at stake. I tell everyone I meet about this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think it does a wonderful job of describing the law and legal issues that an author should know about if they are going to take full advantage of their work product. Knowing the information contained in this book will most assuredly help a small business owner who creates publications to market her company and/or to provide herself with credibility. Definitely a must read for any infopreneur, too!

Interestingly the subject matter included in this book is fairly simple on the grand scheme of things regarding the law. I don't remember a course at either of my law schools that focused on this material. There certainly was a course on Intellectual Property, but that subject is larger than what this book covers. That course covers the real meat of intellectual property: Patent Law. Authors don't need to concern themselves with that subject.

My favorite parts of the book were chapters 2 (Copyright), 4 (Fair Use & Permissions), 7 (Trademark), and 10 (A Brief History of Intellectual Property). I'm glad chapters 3, 8, and 12-14 were included, too. Those talked about how to apply for IP protection with the US Copyright and US Trademark offices, as well as basics about the law of contracts and agreements.

I also enjoyed poking around the Net to learn a bit about the author. I only did this because of the way the author wrote her book. She included herself as part of the book's content. She is a somewhat young attorney who has an athletic background and clearly a drive to be a successful entrepreneur. The world would be a better place if there were more women like her.

I would have enjoyed the book more if it had not been ALL law. For example, while it is true that an author gets substantial protection from registering her copyright so she can sue and get damages. Most writings don't merit filing for such protection. I think it should have been pointed out that some writings don't really need the full range of protection, while others certainly do. If I write a 10-page ebook that helps me market my Web site. Do I really care if someone steals that from me? Probably not. But if I write a 170-page booklet that I sell at my seminars and workshops, then I better register my copyright because some real effort went into that publication and my seminars need it for credibility. I'd be at a loss if someone stole it. Things like this could have been included in the instant book being reviewed to make it better. 5 stars!

What a great book! Fishman's book gives a comprehensive overview of a subject only one in a thousand knows anything about. The Public Domain.

The public domain consists of art, music, literature, software, etc. that belongs to no one and can be repurposed by anyone for other use.

If you and your community group wanted to stage a musical version of Tom Sawyer set in the year 2502, you can do this very easily as Tom Sawyer (and all of Mark Twain's works) are in the public domain. There are no licensing fees.

Fishman gives you a methodology for finding and locating works and for understanding how to track them down and protect yourself should someone want to press a claim against (most likely spurious)

Highly recommended.

Cheers!

Copyright law is complex, sometimes counter-intuitive, and the rules change for each media type. This excellent book not only gives you the basics of copyright law, it expands on the specifics of the law for various media types. The best part of this book, the most brilliant part in my opinion, is the addition of a checklist for each media type. With this checklist, you can verify that your item is in the public domain or if it requires copyright permission. The checklist replaces an expensive copyright law attorney for cases where you can figure it out yourself. Anyone producing media for the public or using media released to the public should own this book. It is an invaluable resource in my professional library.

I made the mistake of buying the first edition of this book (published in 2001), but found it to be an excellent guide to the legal issues involved with public domain textual material. I have already published one book which relied heavily on public domain materials, and am working on a second, and when I bought this book I had several specific questions that I was trying to answer. This book answered all of them, as well as some that I hadn't thought of! I'll probably end up buying the second edition, just to see what has changed in the last few years.

This fat and informative book is a goldmine for anyone interested in public domain works, whether writings, music, art, films or just about anything else. The author, Attorney Stephen Fishman, begins with an examination of copyright laws and the public domain. After that, the book begins each of the chapters on copyrightable materials with a handy checklist for use in determining public domain status, and then launches into a discussion of how to determine the public domain status of such an item. After those useful chapters, the author examines the use of copyrighted and public domain works.

This is one of the most useful books I have ever encountered. It contains most everything you need to know in determining the public domain status of a work, and it is organized in a simple, easy-to-use format (ala the ___ for Dummies books), that is sure to inform the reader, and never lose him or her. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in whether or not something is in the public domain, and thus open to free use.

I probably had the wrong expectations for this book but I was hoping it would (quickly) help me validate whether info I've used required permission. I suppose it did this in an indirect way, however, the free use stuff included old songs etc. that were not appropriate for my topic.

Book is well written so long as it fits with what you need to validate.

I've been CTO for several venture backed startups for the last few gigs. So if like me you want to prepare an application draft as thoroughly as possible before you call your attorney (and open your wallet) then this book will pay for itself on the first chapter. Like when it comes to having my car fixed, I don't do what the mechanic (or expert) does for a living, but I sure want to understand his rationale and learn from him. That's what this book does for the reader. Take one giant leap forward in undertanding the language, strategy and reasoning of the pros and enjoy the insights and confidence that comes with an enhaced command of the art.

Invention Analysis and Claiming: A Patent Lawyer's Guide As an entrepreneur, I found Ronald Slusky's book supremely helpful! We have numerous inventions at my startup company, and we needed a 'language' for communicating with our patent counsel so that our ideas would be more efficiently conveyed. And Ron's book fit the bill! I highly recommend it to any technology company who works with patent counsel. It will save them a lot of time - and money!

I read this book and immediatly manadated that all of my attorneys read it as well. I also recommended it as essential reading for my law school students. Ron may call himself "old school" but in my opinion his way of thinking about patent claims is the only correct way. I've employed and taught Ron's claim drafting strategies for many years and although I might hate to admit it, I learned a lot from this book.

I wish I had this book when I was first starting out 17 years ago. Instead, I read the claim construction decisions and learned on the job. Claim drafting really is an art form and Ron's book gives you the framework necessary to begin crafting patent claims with a purpose.

I was thinking about writing a text book about how to draft patent applications, but now I'm not so sure I could add much to what Ron has written.

Kirk Teska, author of Patent Savvy for Managers: Spot & Protect Valuable Innovations in Your Company

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to draft valuable, enforceable patent claims. The book is very well written and very clear, and the examples are thoughtfully chosen. I learned much of what I know about elevating patent prosecution to an art form from the author, and this book contains his expert insights. I have personally benefited from this book and intend to buy it for each of my associates.

I'm a newly minted patent associate. I've seen other massive tomes around on drafting basics. I'm aware that the bosses rarely have time to initiate a tutorial for the associates. So, what's the solution? I just happened to read an ABA pitch for Slusky's book and picked it up. What a book it is!

It's not easy to take complex subject matter and distill it down into its key components while being educational and keeping the pace light, but dare I say as a novice patent attorney, that Slusky seems to have accomplished just that. I don't know the man, but I couldn't help but think as I read this book that he was standing over my shoulder at my desk, shepherding me along.

It's so clear to me: read with a goal--begin with the problem/solution and keep it in your head throughout your drafting. Slusky's mantra has made it seem so much easier. And isn't that the mark of a good teacher after all, substituting mastery for mystery?

Some people don't learn by reading, but by doing. Fair enough, but this book, unlike its more massive brethren in the field, packs more useable knowledge per page and in an enjoyable style to read, than the others ever could.

Thanks. I feel ready to tackle the most challenging of patent apps!

I bought this book a couple of months back and used it extensively in completing a couple of investments. As an investor, I found this book exceptionally useful. Clearly Mr Miller has excellent overall business and transactional understanding, which he has put down as knowledge in an extremely accessible way.

Miller's book is a comprehensive source of excellent advice for founders, technology executives and venture investors. Using a detailed but very readable style, this book brings together the wide range of topics relevant to a tech startup and covers each one thoroughly. Most importantly, it describes the interconnections between those topics that are unique to early stage companies, recommends actions, and provides the logic behind the recommendation. As a former CTO and CEO of venture backed tech startups, I would suggest that every early stage company exec would benefit from having this book as a resource.

Louis Hruska, Founder and CTO PowerSmart, CEO Akermin Inc.

Great book - very informative. Attorney Miller really knows his stuff (as he should since he's been around pretty much since the birth of the venture capitalist industry.) Whether you are running a tech company or thinking of launching one, this book is required reading.

Similar to how he does it in his recent book, Mergers and Acquisitions, Edwin L. Miller again displays a powerful ability to present complex information in clear and concise terms. His education and experience are indisputably top-notch, and he further uses this insight to cover numerous stages of a Technology Company in lucid and understandable detail. This is a must-read for anyone interested in starting a technology company, and it pays for itself within the first hour. The book is also comprehensive in that it covers the entire lifecycle of a Technology Company from start-up and formation to placements and acquisition. Easily five stars.

As an attorney who has worked with start-ups I found this book to be an incredibly valuable resource and suggest that anyone looking to start a technology company read it because it provides a roadmap to all of the business and legal issues that you will face when launching your technology company. From formation to funding to IPO or sale, Mr. Miller breaks down the issues that you will face in a clear and concise way, providing insight into all sides of an issue. I highly recommend it!

Harrison & Davis offer intellectual property (IP) professionals - including IP attorney's seeking to advocate for their client - a better and more effective understanding of how to manage IP as a strategic business asset. Unlike other books on the subject, Edison, and it's sequel, "Einstein in the Boardroom" (2006), offers rare pragmatic advise with evidence-based outcomes from a community of IP-savvy companies on the benefits of becoming proactive in identifying, protecting and leveraging all forms of intellectual capital to address strategic business objectives.

Julie Davis and Suzanne Harrison's book, Edison in the Boardroom, takes readers deep enough into the field of intellectual property management for them to incorporate presented theories into their respective professional disciplines - researcher, attorney, licensing exec, etc. - without the book becoming unwieldy. Excellent balance. This book can become a cornerstone text for any professional involved with intellectual property to direct his or her focus for additional study and to ensure his or her working knowledge of the challenges confronting professionals in other disciplines that together form a corporate intellectual property management program.

Professor Thomas G. Field, Jr., Franklin Pierce Law Center

Few variables are more likely to dictate short- and long-term commercial success than a firm's ability to convert intellectual assets into intellectual property (IP). The smaller the firm, the bigger the need, and the need only grows.
Most companies are careful to avoid IP infringement and are eager to sue direct competitors who do not. Many firms also educate key employees on their roles in perfecting and protecting intangible assets. Fewer give full attention to IP and antecedents that might nevertheless be regarded as assets. For example, those who would not hesitate to monitor and sue infringing competitors may not monitor non-competitors as potential licensees.
To extract the most from intellectual assets, many factors, e.g., legal, technical marketing and sales, must be weighed. Edison in the Boardroom offers important advice to help firms take steps to meet that need. Despite its reference to "assets" in the subtitle, however, most of this book focuses more narrowly - on IP, and on patents specifically.
Davis and Harrison, said to bring "a quarter century of IP consulting accomplishments between them," document that some companies have long engaged in trying to optimize the value of their intellectual assets. The authors also assign companies to a five-level hierarchy based on a range of IP-management strategies. A goldmining metaphor is usefully advanced at one point to describe those levels as: defensive (staking claims), panning (cost control), mining (deeper profit seeking), processing (integration), and sculpting. The heart of the book consists of five chapters that discuss these levels seriatim and offers a host of useful ideas and anecdotes.
The book is generally well-structured. For example, early in each of the five core chapters is a description of what "companies are trying to accomplish" at the corresponding level of IP-management sophistication. At the defensive level, of course, companies have processes for seeking, maintaining and enforcing IP. Yet, in the discussion of second-level companies, said to seek to reduce costs by exercising judgment about what is brought into and kept in their patent portfolios, it becomes clear how much various levels overlap. The first two topics may usefully be segregated for purposes of discussion, but it is hard to imagine any company that can afford, literally, to pursue protection without attempting to balance portfolio goals against concomitant costs. Indeed, one thesis of the second chapter is that no firm can seek the strongest protection for everything of potential patentability, much less seek it in every possible country.
The third chapter diverges considerably. Companies featured there are said to seek, e.g., to extract portfolio value as quickly and cheaply as possible. Several have gone well beyond suing competitors or easily discovered, non-competing infringers. The most aggressive of such firms regard IP departments as profit centers and actively solicit licensees. Their success is sometimes remarkable. As the authors point out, "Worldwide revenues from patent licensing have grown from $15 billion in 1990 to over $100 billion in 2000." Echoing the central theme of another recent book, Davis and Harrison also point out that, "Some experts estimate that companies are sitting on $1 trillion per year in unexploited licensing fees."
Fourth- and fifth-level firms are difficult to distinguish from ones discussed earlier - or from each other. For example, level-four companies are said to seek to integrate "IP awareness and operations throughout all functions of the company." That seems necessary, too, for allegedly less capable compatriots. Further, when level-five firms are described as embedding intellectual assets and their management into the company culture, it is difficult to find divergence.
The last are said to have as additional objectives: (1) staking a claim on the future and (2) encouraging "disruptive technologies." Still, these could easily been collapsed into "Get a Crystal Ball!" Heuristics for meeting them non-serendipitiously are weak.
Consider, for example, the mouse and graphic interface as commercialized on Macintosh computers. Steve Jobs is said to have derived both from the Alto computer developed by Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center. While Jobs became a billionaire, "Xerox completely failed to get into the personal computer business, missing one of the biggest business opportunities in history." To avoid repeating such mistakes, Davis and Harrison suggest that companies should "identify ways the corporation can benefit from [ideas outside their business capacity] before moving on." They, not surprisingly, can offer little guidance.
One IP attorney recently stressed the need for his colleagues better to understand the identification, protection and use of intellectual capital "effectively to address strategic corporate objectives." Those for whom this is novel terrrain will find Edison in the Boardroom helpful.
Also, senior IP counsel better acquainted with the topic may find the book useful. Some will face difficulty in convincing those at the same level or higher in the corporate hierarchy of its importance. To the extent that their advocacy of the critical role to be played by IP counsel is perceived as serving selfish aims, the book should help allay suspicions.
For these and other attorneys, the value of Edison in the Boardroom could easily, and vastly, exceed its modest price.

The basic concept of this book is very intriguing: Briefly examine the life and career of Thomas Edison and then suggest direct correlations between his achievements with real-world situations in which various companies are now deriving substantial value from their intellectual capital. The authors also make skillful use of Edison's own recorded thoughts and feelings. Of special interest to me was what he had to say about the creative process. For example, "Men are just beginning to propose questions and find answers, and we may be sure that no matter what question we ask, so long as it is not against the laws of nature, a solution can be found." This what the author refer to as "The Edison Mindset." Edison apparently had almost no concern about a given experiment's "failure" which he continued to view, rather, as non-success to that stage. Too often, senior-level executives become preoccupied with results and neglect the process by which they can be achieved. Among Edison's greatest (and perhaps least appreciated) achievements was the establishment of the first research laboratory in which he and his associates would collaborate on various projects. Edison was a pioneer in recognizing the importance of assembling the best available talent and providing them with sufficient resources as well as a culture wherein those talents could be fully utilized. Davis and Harrison obviously have this point in mind when observing that "benchmarking best practices without any regard for the underlying culture of the firm can be problematic."

NOTE: For those interested in this subject, I highly recommend Organizing Genius in which Bennis and Biederman examine the collaborative efforts of those involved at the Disney studios which produced so many animation classics; at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) which developed the first personal computer; at Apple Computer which then took it to market; at the so-called "War Room" which helped to elect Bill Clinton President in 1992; those active in the so-called "Skunk Works" where so many of Lockheed's greatest designs were formulated; at Black Mountain College which "wasn't simply a place where creative collaboration took place. It was about creative collaboration"; and at Los Alamos (NM) and the University of Chicago where the Manhattan Project eventually produced a new weapon called "the Gadget."

This is an extremely well-organized and well-written book in which Davis and Harrison use the life and career of Edison for guidance to understanding subjects of major importance today such as breakthrough innovation, collaborative effort, the development and management of intellectual property, and effective organizational transformation. They suggest that companies (indeed all organizations) function in one or more of five levels which comprise "the hierarchy of value" for intellectual property, a model created at Andersen's Intellectual Property Management Practice and then at ICMG:

1. Defensive: "If a corporation owns an intellectual asset (such as a great business concept), it can prevent competitors from using the asset."

2. Cost Control: "Companies focus on how to reduce the costs of filing and maintaining their IP portfolios."

3. Profit Center: "Having learned how to control many of their patent-related costs, companies at this level turn their attention to more proactive strategies that can generate millions of dollars of additional revenues while further continuing to trim costs.'

4. Integrated Level: In this level the IP function ceases to focus on self-centered activities and reaches outwardly beyond its own department to serve a greater purpose within the organization as a whole."

5. Visionary Level: "Few companies have reached this level of looking outside the company and into the future. In this level, the IP function, having already become deeply ingrained in the company, takes on the challenge of identifying future trends in the industry and consumer preferences."

After an excellent Introduction, the authors devote a separate chapter to each of the five Levels and then provide a case study of the Dow Chemical Company, followed by three appendices: Mining a Portfolio for Value, Competitive Assessment, and Integrated Performance Reporting. They suggest all manner of similarities and differences between and among these five Levels, in process suggesting also a wealth of strategies and tactics to consider when attempting to achieve the desired results at any of these Levels.

To a greater extent now than at any prior time in human history, with all due respect to major developments such as the light bulb, telephone, automobile, and personal computer, corporations (indeed entire societies) seek "exciting, new, novel, and discontinuous innovations....For centuries, companies have linked ideas and money by embedding their new ideas (legally protected or not) into products to be sold or bartered. Today, however, an exciting new concept is revolutionizing the way companies extract value from their ideas: an idea no longer needs to be embedded into a product or service to create value. Today ideas are licensed, sold, or bartered in their raw state for great value." And they are getting that value through intellectual property management (IPM). Hence the importance of encouraging and supporting "The Edison Mindset."

Here in a single volume, the authors provide a comprehensive, cohesive, and cost-effective program. It remains for decision-makers in any organization now considering or at work on the design of an IPM to select whatever material in the book is most appropriate to their organization's specific needs. One value-added benefit of this book is that Davis and Harrison can assist with that selection process. A point made earlier, however, deserves repeating: "benchmarking best practices without any regard for the underlying culture of the firm can be problematic."

The authors provide an excellent framework for companies to manage their intellectual property - without using too much consultant speak.

They quote examples at different levels of their framework and look at companies who are suceeding at managing and valuing their IP effectively. This is a skill which can only be more and more wanted in the future.

The most interesting takeaway is that most companies are very bad in this field, and there are very few success stories.