Daniel Cahoy and Lynda Oswald have brought together some of the country's most prominent patent scholars outside the legal discipline. From the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act to recent court cases from the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit, this timely, informative and well-edited volume examines the latest changes in US patent law and their impact on business strategy. The book is a must-read for anybody who wants to learn more deeply about the ever-increasing role of patents in the business environment.'> - Peter K. Yu, Drake University Law School, USWithin the complex global economy, patents function as indispensable tools for fostering and protecting innovation. This fascinating volume offers a comprehensive perspective on the US patent system, detailing its many uses and outlining several critical legislative, administrative and judicial reforms that impact business strategy. The expert contributors to this book provide an overview of how the US patent system functions today and describe how recent changes affect firms and individual inventors. Topics discussed include the drivers of intellectual property policy; recent revisions to the patent application process in terms of the new first-to-file regime, inequitable conduct, and allowable subject matter; and changes to patent enforcement and infringement related to the Federal Circuit's special role and post-grant review. Contributors address recent legislation such as the 2011 America Invents Act, which enacted some of the most significant patent reforms in decades. This examination of the US patent system highlights some of the most important issues for business. It will serve as an important tool for both policymakers and business leaders, and will also interest students and professors of business and management studies, innovation studies and business law. Contributors: C. Aceves, T.L. Anenson, D.L. Baumer, R.C. Bird, D.R. Cahoy, W.M. Chumney, J. Gehman, D.M. Gitter, Z. Lei, G. Mark, S.J. Marsnik, D. Orozco, L.J. Oswald, R.B. Sawyers, R.E. Thomas

As intellectual property becomes ever more central to modern firms, the role of employer-employee relationships in intangible asset management has also evolved. Professors Oswald and Pagnattaro tackle this important topic in a rich and diverse new book. Through a series of intellectually robust chapters written by noted experts, they consider employees from the perspective of knowledge generators, team members with mobility rights, liability risks and even information misappropriators. The analysis and advice one derives is timely, creative and often surprising. I believe that Managing the Legal Nexus Between Intellectual Property and Employees is an essential read for attorneys, managers and investors who want to remain competitive in today's global business environment. And educators will find it an important reference for training future business leaders.' - Daniel R. Cahoy, Penn State University, USThe explosion in intellectual capital coincides with a growing understanding of the importance of human capital to the firm. Managing the Legal Nexus Between Intellectual Property and Employees: Domestic and Global Contexts highlights some of the most critical contemporary issues occurring at the intersection of intellectual property law, employment law, and global trade. In addition to the legal dimensions, the book tackles issues of strategy and decision-making for businesses. The contributors discuss the use of employment contracts to protect intellectual property, ownership of intellectual property created by employees, officer liability issues relating to infringement, post-employment confidentiality and non-compete agreements, and inadvertent or deliberate misappropriation of trade secrets. The discussion of key topics in intellectual property law in the US and abroad makes this a valuable resource for both academics and practitioners worldwide. Business managers, government employees, and intellectual property owners will appreciate its timely and cutting-edge analysis. Contributors: R. Bird, N.C. Bishara, E. Brown, R.M. Lorentz, J.M. Magid, S. Marsnik, D. Orozc, L.J. Oswald, M. Pagnattaro, S. Park, J.D. Prenkert, C.M.C. Westphal