Patent engineer
Encyclopedia
A patent engineer or patent scientist is a patent
professional
that is typically involved in preparing and prosecuting patent application
s. The terms are usually applied to patent professionals with scientific or engineering
backgrounds that do not require either attorney
or patent agent
qualifications, but still work with patent applications. In general, the position involves many of the technical aspects of patent prosecution
, including doing background and prior art
searches, drafting the specifications and preparing reference figures for patent applications, and giving technical expertise during invention
evaluation. Positions of this nature may focus a great deal on research and development
while including patent considerations, emphasizing their technical background rather than legal or patent agent qualification.
Most patent scientists or engineers hold at least a bachelor's degree
in a scientific or engineering discipline, with many holding advanced degrees such as Ph.D.
s or M.D.
s. It is rare for a patent scientist or engineer to hold a law degree
as such individuals are usually patent attorney
s.
Patent scientists and engineers often pursue either patent agent qualification and/or attend law school
(this applies in the U.S. but not in Europe) to become patent attorneys.
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
that is typically involved in preparing and prosecuting patent application
Patent application
A patent application is a request pending at a patent office for the grant of a patent for the invention described and claimed by that application. An application consists of a description of the invention , together with official forms and correspondence relating to the application...
s. The terms are usually applied to patent professionals with scientific or engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
backgrounds that do not require either attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
or patent agent
Patent attorney
A patent attorney is an attorney who has the specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice, such as filing an opposition...
qualifications, but still work with patent applications. In general, the position involves many of the technical aspects of patent prosecution
Patent prosecution
Patent prosecution describes the interaction between applicants and their representatives, and a patent office with regard to a patent, or an application for a patent...
, including doing background and prior art
Prior art
Prior art , in most systems of patent law, constitutes all information that has been made available to the public in any form before a given date that might be relevant to a patent's claims of originality...
searches, drafting the specifications and preparing reference figures for patent applications, and giving technical expertise during invention
Invention
An invention is a novel composition, device, or process. An invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea, or it could be independently conceived, in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. In addition, there is cultural invention, which is an innovative set of useful social...
evaluation. Positions of this nature may focus a great deal on research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
while including patent considerations, emphasizing their technical background rather than legal or patent agent qualification.
Most patent scientists or engineers hold at least a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in a scientific or engineering discipline, with many holding advanced degrees such as Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
s or M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
s. It is rare for a patent scientist or engineer to hold a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
as such individuals are usually patent attorney
Patent attorney
A patent attorney is an attorney who has the specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice, such as filing an opposition...
s.
Patent scientists and engineers often pursue either patent agent qualification and/or attend law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
(this applies in the U.S. but not in Europe) to become patent attorneys.
See also
- Patent attorney and patent agentPatent attorneyA patent attorney is an attorney who has the specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice, such as filing an opposition...
- Patent examiner
- Law clerkLaw clerkA law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
- New product developmentNew product developmentIn business and engineering, new product development is the term used to describe the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A product is a set of benefits offered for exchange and can be tangible or intangible...