Patenting in Biotechnology from Coursera

Far too often, researchers are misinformed about the role and the possibilities arising around patents and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). In this course we will teach you what IPR are - with a special focus on patents. Also this course will look at the importance of patents in the world of biotechnology - and what you actually can patent.

Should your research be protected? Can your research even be protected?

There are a lot of misunderstandings about patents, so first step is to know what patents really are and how they work. Then we will introduce how and when to apply for them. Also how to find existing patents is a crucial and necessary element to being able to assess whether your research should be protected or not.

The course will be divided in 7 sessions, and at the end of the course, you should be able to:

- describe the different types of IPR

- explain the conditions of patentability for an invention

- describe the various stages involved in a patent application

- search and retrieve patent information from databases

- read and understand a patent

- write claims related to biotechnology

- understand and explain the concept of Freedom To Operate

Course Materials:

You will need the following book as a reading material for the course:

“Patenting in Biotechnology, a laboratory manual” by Peter Ulvskov, which will be available from

http://polyteknisk.dk/home/Detaljer/9788750211068

Also, you will need to get access from your home institution to these databases:

- Derwent Innovation Index (via Web of Science)

- SciFinder

NB:

This course is related to a 5 ECTS point course that is a mandatory requirement for access to the BioBusiness and Innovation Platform (BBIP) program at the Copenhagen Business School. NOTE: this Coursera course will NOT be sufficient for attending the BBIP program but successful completion of this course (with a Course Certificate) will be a plus for applying to the BBIP.

To obtain the 5 ECTS points, you will have to enrol as a DTU Student, participate on a hands-on workshop on patent databases and pass an exam in presence of an external Censor. For more information, please email me at:

[email protected]

Link for BBIP: (http://www.cbs.dk/viden-samfundet/strategiske-indsatsomrader/biobusiness-and-innovation-platform-bbip)

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights

An introduction to the important subjects within the field of patenting, such as novelty and “person skilled in the art”. By Federico De Masi

The Patent System I

Get to know the important timeline for getting a patent. We look at the filing, international filing, examination, publication, and potential approval of a patent. Note that we will go deeper into the search machinery later in lecture 5. By Peter Ulvskov.

The Patent System II

The first video introduces search reports and looks into destruction of novelty/inventive steps. The second video covers international filling - the PCT system. The issues with medical use claims will also be discussed. By Peter Ulvskov.

Creating a Patent Landscape

To map the patent landscape for an invention you need to be able to perform “literature search” for patents. This is important if you want to avoid infringing existing patents. In this lecture, different databases are reviewed: Derwent, USPTO, and NCBI. By Peter Ulvskov.

How to Patent Biotechnology Inventions?

Here we go through the interesting issues, rules and possibilities of patenting specific biotechnology related items as microorganisms or enzymes. By Claus Jørgensen.

Business and Patents

How can we avoid infringing other patents and what are solutions in case we do? Freedom to operate (FTO) is in its essence to the constraints surrounding your invention that prevents your ability to produce/sell your invention. By Karin Beukel.

Patenting Small Chemicals and Compounds

In this lecture the novelty of chemical molecules and natural products are discussed. An interesting real life example tried to but things in perspective. By Federico De Masi.

Searching Patents for Small Chemicals

Introduction to using SciFinder, an enormous database for chemical reactions and compounds. See how one utilizes Markus formulas to search for patents. By Peter Ulvskov.

Conclusion - Should You Patent Your Invention?

Philosophical lecture about the benefit of patenting and how to actually use your approved patent. Also importantly, we cover ALL the reasons to NOT patent! Definitely important even though we really love patents in this course.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the fundamentals of intellectual property rights, providing learners with a foundational understanding of patents and their crucial role in biotechnology

Taught by renowned experts in the field, including Claus Bøttcher Jørgensen, Peter Ulvskov, and Karin Beukel, who bring both academic and practical expertise to the course

Develops practical skills in understanding and drafting patents, preparing learners for careers in biotechnology or related fields

Provides hands-on learning through interactive exercises and case studies, enhancing learners' ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios

Covers advanced topics like Freedom to Operate and strategic patenting, equipping learners with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of intellectual property in biotechnology

Requires access to databases and specialized software that may not be readily available to all learners, potentially creating barriers to participation

Reviews summary

Highly recommended biotech patenting course

Learners say the Patenting in Biotechnology course is useful for those in the field. Students described it as amazing and worthwhile.

Challenging but educational

"The course assignments are quite changeling but really worth for the overall learning process."

"This course was amazing and I am using it frequently in real work experiences for patent search through different biotechnological projects."

"I have learned a lot of practical knowledge and skills in analyzing a patent in biotechnology area. It is very useful!"

Provides a deep introduction to biotechnology patents

"Amazing Course The delivery is great, the coursework is a little complex. But teaches a lot of great things"

"Learnt on how to assess Biotechnology patents, how to conduct a Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis and how to maximise utilisation of patent databases such as WIPO PatentScope, Espacenet, Derwent, and SciFinder."

"An amazing learning experience! Learnt on how to assess Biotechnology patents, how to conduct a Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis and how to maximise utilisation of patent databases such as WIPO PatentScope, Espacenet, Derwent, and SciFinder."

Designed specifically for patenting in biotechnology

"First of a course for honing skills of IP search and analysis in the field of Biotechnology."

"It is my pleasure to join this course and I really could learn so many things related to the patenting process in Biotechnology."

"The course is perfectly designed for patenting in the biotechnology field with detailed patent searching tools and databases."

Develops practical skills for the work environment

"I have learned a lot of practical knowledge and skills in analyzing a patent in biotechnology area. It is very useful!"

"This is an excellent course. It teaches various aspects of the patent search, application and more."

"The delivery is great, the coursework is a little complex. But teaches a lot of great things"

Accessing required resources may be difficult

"The course is informative, but all the lectures were focused towards patent searching rather than patentability on various products in biotechnology. The assignment required access to paid data bases."

"The course was not designed for a broad audience: only students from universities that have access to databases with paywall can complete the course."

"Unfortunately, the course was not designed for students without university or company access to commercial databases"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Patenting in Biotechnology with these activities:

Review “Patenting in Biotechnology, a laboratory manual” by Peter Ulvskov

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This resource will give you valuable knowledge on the process of patenting biotechnology inventions.

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Read relevant chapters of the book

Practice searching for patents using Derwent Innovation Index

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Introduce yourself to a valuable tool used for researching patents relevant to your research.

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Access the database through Web of Science
Learn search operators and syntax
Perform test searches for specific patents

Practice searching patents using SciFinder

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SciFinder is a key tool for researching patents; learning to apply it will greatly aid you in understanding the course.

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Access the database and create an account
Learn search operators and syntax
Perform test searches for specific patents

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

Practice writing claims related to biotechnology

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Practice in writing biotechnology-specific patent claims will sharpen this skill and improve your written patent applications.

Browse courses on Biotechnology

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Review the elements of a patent claim
Identify the key features of your invention
Draft claims using precise language

Design a patent landscape map

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Hands-on creation of a patent landscape map will provide context and understanding of relevant patents in your area of research.

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Gather patent data using databases
Analyze the data and identify patterns
Create a visual representation of the landscape

Review course notes and practice questions

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Help solidify and reinforce the concepts you've learned so far in the course.

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Review lecture notes
Attempt practice questions

Career center

Learners who complete Patenting in Biotechnology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Biotechnology Business Analyst

Biotechnology Business Analysts focus on the field of biotechnology, bringing a background in business and analytics to the table. This course can be useful for this role, as it teaches the student how to map patent landscapes, which is important when analyzing the market position of a company.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biotechnology Business Analyst

Licensing Manager

Licensing Managers negotiate and manage licensing agreements for intellectual property. This course could be useful for those working in the biotechnology field, as patents are an integral part of licensing in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Licensing Manager

Biotechnology Consultant

Biotechnology Consultants help companies overcome challenges in the production, development, and marketing of biotechnology products. This course can be useful for someone working with clients in this industry, as the course goes beyond the basics of patents to describe the impact of patents on business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biotechnology Consultant

Patent Agent

Patent Agents prepare, file, prosecute, and maintain patent applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Since the USPTO handles biotechnology patents, having a more granular understanding of this segment of the world of patents, as provided by this course, could be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patent Agent

Technology Transfer Officer

Technology Transfer Officers help universities and research institutions commercialize their intellectual property. This course provides a good overview of the basics of patents and intellectual property which could be useful for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Transfer Officer

Patent Examiner

Patent Examiners evaluate patent applications to ensure they meet the requirements of the patent law. Given the course's focus on biotechnology, it could be useful for someone who wishes to examine biotechnology patents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patent Examiner

Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct scientific research to advance knowledge and create new technologies, products, and services. For those that conduct biotechnology research, this course could be useful for navigating the landscape of what is possible versus what is already patented.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Intellectual Property Lawyers specialize in the area of law that governs all creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. This course may be useful for those who wish to specialize in biotechnology patents within this broad field of law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Intellectual Property Lawyer

Biotechnology Patent Attorney

A Biotechnology Patent Attorney is a lawyer that focuses on all aspects of intellectual property law as they relate to biotechnology. Because this course takes an in-depth look specifically at biotechnology patenting and the related facets of intellectual property, this course may be useful to help someone succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biotechnology Patent Attorney

Medical Writer

Medical Writers create scientific and educational materials for healthcare providers, patients, and the public. This course may be useful for those entering this field, as the biotechnology industry is a major employer of medical writers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Writer

Bioinformatics Scientist

Bioinformatics Scientists use computational tools to analyze biological data. This course may be useful to those working in the biotechnology industry, as patents are an integral part of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, where bioinformatics scientists are often employed.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bioinformatics Scientist

Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance Managers are responsible for ensuring that products and services meet quality standards. This course may be useful for those working in the biotechnology industry, as the biotechnology industry is highly regulated.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development, launch, and marketing of new products. This course may be useful to those working in the biotechnology industry, as the biotechnology industry is a major employer of product managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Biostatistician

Biostatisticians use statistics to design scientific studies, collect and analyze data, and interpret the results. This course may be useful for those working in the biotechnology space, as patents are an integral part of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, where biostatisticians often work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biostatistician

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers work with medical doctors, scientists, and other engineers to design, manufacture, and use biomedical devices, equipment, and artificial organs. This course may be useful for those working in the biotechnology space, since patents are an integral part of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer