Substantive Claim Construction as a Patent Scope Lever

IP Theory, Vol. 1, p. 100-114, 2011

UC Davis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 245

16 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2011 Last revised: 3 Jan 2015

See all articles by Peter Lee

Peter Lee

University of California, Davis - School of Law

Date Written: February 25, 2011

Abstract

This Essay proposes a new mechanism for optimizing patent scope, the amount of technological “coverage” afforded to a patent. Drawing on the seminal work of Robert Merges and Richard Nelson, it argues that courts should calibrate claim scope by utilizing “substantive claim construction.” Current claim construction is “hypertextual” and largely ignores technological and industrial context. To reform this practice, this Essay argues that in close cases, courts should consider the technical merit of a patented invention, attributes of the allegedly infringing product, and the competitive landscape in which these technologies operate when construing claims. Courts would then be empowered to construe claim terms broadly in light of significant contributions by a patent and narrowly where contributions are marginal or technological development in a particular field would benefit significantly from rivalrous competition. Ultimately, by considering context, courts could utilize claim construction as a lever to optimize patent scope. While this proposal seems radical, this Essay argues that it finds support in both the patent law’s historical system of central claiming as well as the Supreme Court’s recent articulations on patent law.

Suggested Citation

Lee, Peter, Substantive Claim Construction as a Patent Scope Lever (February 25, 2011). IP Theory, Vol. 1, p. 100-114, 2011, UC Davis Legal Studies Research Paper No. 245, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1770043

Peter Lee (Contact Author)

University of California, Davis - School of Law ( email )

Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall
Davis, CA CA 95616-5201
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
108
Abstract Views
3,612
Rank
451,760
PlumX Metrics