HOW CAN THE CHEMIST HELP THE PATENT LAWYER: THE CORPORATE CHEMIST HELPS THE PATENT LAWYER* By BRUCE L. F A Y E R W A T H E R
Patent Department, T h e Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.
The t i t l e of t h i s p a p e r l e n d s itself t o a n u m b e r of i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s . The m o s t obvious of t h e s e c o n c e r n s itself with ( 1 ) the never-ending s t r u g g l e of the c h e m i s t t o invent and obtain pate n t s without becoming e n m e s h e d i n the t i m e consuming o p e r a t i o n of defining the l i m i t s of h i s d i s c o v e r i e s and ( 2 ) the well intentioned e f f o r t s of .the patent counsel t o obtain sufficient of d e t a i l p r o p e r l y to p r e s e n t t h a t s a m e invention i n s u c h scope a s to give the m a x i m u m of p r o t e c t i o n t o h i s client. I have had e x p e r i e n c e on both s i d e s of t h i s q u e s t i o n , f i r s t as a c o r p o r a t e r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t and f o r the p a s t 25 y e a r s as a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of The Dow C h e m i c a l Company in patent m a t t e r s . A s a c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t I have known the j o y s and s o r r o w s of meeting the d e m a n d s of i n o r d i nately thorough patent c o u n s e l . As patent couns e l , I have e x p e r i e n c e d the e x a s p e r a t i n g r e l u c t a n c e of the c h e m i s t inventor t o c o o p e r a t e in the completion of insufficient d i s c l o s u r e s . To t a k e s i d e s in this continuing f r i e n d l y c o n t r o v e r s y would be to c o u r t d i s a s t e r . Accordingly, I will d r o p the subject completely and p r o c e e d t o the r e l a t i v e l y s a f e r ground of a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o r i g i n a l l y intended by our m o d e r a t o r , T h i s second i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e s t h e c a r e f u l and c o n s i d e r e d u s e of the qualified c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t in the p e r f o r m a n c e of a portion of the functions of the patent l a w y e r . To e a c h of you who h a s c a r r i e d or s h a r e d the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of a c o r p o r a t e patent d e p a r t m e n t , with i t s p r o b l e m s of r e c r u i t i n g , m a i n taining and expanding a f o r c e of competent patent counsel, I extend m y condolences. At no t i m e i n the p a s t 25 y e a r s h a s t h e r e been a sufficient available supply of patent t a l e n t . Why the g r e a t p o s s i b i l i t i e s i n t h i s f i e l d have not been r e c o g nized by both the l e g a l and c h e m i c a l p r o f e s s i o n s is h a r d to u n d e r s t a n d , In s p i t e of p r o v i s i o n s i n the s t a t u t e s and r u l e s of p r a c t i c e f o r technically t r a i n e d m e n t o qualify as patent a g e n t s or s o l i c i t o r s , the possibility of s u c h activity s e l d o m s e e m s to o c c u r to the c h e m i s t . S i m i l a r l y with the young lawyer of s c i e n t i f i c bent. In our continued s e a r c h i n g of the l a w s c h o o l s and u n i v e r s i t i e s i t is a r a r e thing t o find a m a n who h a s planned f o r a patent c a r e e r . With s u c h a s c a r c i t y of " r e a d y - m a d e " q u a l i f i e d p e r s o n n e l , c o r p o r a t e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n is m o s t often f a c e d with l i t t l e choice o t h e r than t o out-bid the competition. T h i s is a l o s i n g g a m e and c e r tainly e s t a b l i s h e s a poor p r e c e d e n t f o r counsel a l r e a d y on the p a y r o l l . H o w e v e r , t h e r e is not m u c h a l t e r n a t i v e f o r the a d m i n i s t r a t o r who would m a i n t a i n a s h o p c o n s i s t i n g only of g r a d u a t e patent l a w y e r s .
Thirty-five y e a r s a g o , The Dow C h e m i c a l Company s e l e c t e d as the nucleus of a captive patent g r o u p a m a n who had been chief e n g i n e e r of the company, and two o r g a n i c c h e m i s t s , v a r i ously engaged i n r e s e a r c h and t e c h n i c a l s a l e s . P e r h a p s f o r t h i s r e a s o n , the d e p a r t m e n t of which I a m a representative has operated since that t i m e as a m i x e d g r o u p of patent l a w y e r s and patent a g e n t s , e a c h p e r f o r m i n g a n a p p r o p r i a t e function, and f u r t h e r r e l i e s v e r y heavily on c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t s as l i a i s o n m e n in i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p s with r e s e a r c h and development p e r s o n n e l . Of the individuals who p r e s e n t l y a r e i n a c t i v e captive patent p r a c t i c e with o u r company, t h i r t e e n a r e patent l a w y e r s , eighteen a r e patent a g e n t s , f o u r a r e t r a i n e e s , and one i s a f o r e i g n patent s p e c i a l i s t , In addition, we a r e a s s i s t e d by twenty-one patent l i a i s o n m e n , two of whom a r e patent l a w y e r s and nineteen a r e c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t s o r e n g i n e e r s . I might add that e a c h of t h e s e l i a i s o n m e n is c a r r i e d o n the p a y r o l l of the d e p a r t m e n t or g r o u p h e p a r t i c u l a r l y s e r v e s and not on the patent d e p a r t m e n t p a y r o l l . Men a r e designated to t h i s w o r k m o s t f r e q u e n t l y by r e s e a r c h o r development a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and a r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the f i n e s t technical t a l e n t e m ployed by the company. All patent l i a i s o n people and the g r e a t p r e ponderance of our patent a g e n t s a r e locally t r a i n e d . While t h e r e is nothing p a r t i c u l a r l y a s t o n i s h i n g or o r i g i n a l about Dow's o p e r a t i o n s i n t h i s r e g a r d , i t h a s been suggested that I m e n tion s o m e of the qualifications we look f o r in a c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t o r e n g i n e e r , something conc e r n i n g o u r utilization of the c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t and the functions of the l a t t e r i n the s e v e r a l a s p e c t s of o u r patent p r o g r a m . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n is p r e s e n t e d i n outline f o r m . A. P r e f e r r e d Qualifications of the Technical P e r s o n f o r Particination in Patent Functions 1 . F r o m 3 t o 5 y e a r s e x p e r i e n c e with the company. 2 . E i t h e r a m a s t e r o r doctor d e g r e e i n s c i e n c e or e n g i n e e r i n g . 3. An e x t r o v e r t e d p e r s o n a l i t y . 4. A willingness to w o r k and the ability to survive constructive criticism. 5. The ability to get along with people. 6 . A p r o f e s s i o n a l outlook. 7. Young enough in age t o justify the r e q u i r e d y e a r s of i n s t r u c t i o n and t r a i n i n g by e x p e r i e n c e d counsel. 8. The ability t o think and w r i t e .
*Presented before the Division of Chemical Literature, ACS National Meeting, New York, N.Y., September 12, 1960.
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THE CORPORATE CHEMIST AND THE P A T E N T LAWYER B. T h e C o r p o r a t e C h e m i s t In P a t e n t L i a i s o n , Dow's ADDroach t o Utilization 1. Maintains at l e a s t one patent l i a i s o n m a n i n e a c h m a j o r r e s e a r c h g r o u p and a t e a c h l o c a t i o n c o n c e r n e d with r e s e a r c h and d e v e l o p m e n t . 2. O r g a n i z e s a n d c a r r i e s out s c h o o l s of i n s t r u c t i o n f o r all patent l i a i s o n m e n . In t h e s e , t h e m o r e e x p e r i e n c e d l a w y e r s a n d a g e n t s conduct s e m i n a r s on the v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of t h e c o r p o r a t e patent Operation. 3 . Backs u p the l i a i s o n o p e r a t i o n by r e g u l a r v i s i t s of patent counsel t o e a c h of the a r e a s s e r v e d by l i a i s o n p e r s o n n e l . 4. Encoura.ges t h e individuals c o n c e r n e d i n studying; patent l a w a n d a l s o i n obtaining t h e g e n e r a l l a w d e g r e e by a t t e n d a n c e at night s c h o o l , when a v a i l a b l e , or otherwise.
F u n c t i o n s P e r f o r m e d by t h e P a t e n t L i a i s o n Chemist. 1. Maintains p e r s o n a l a n d f r i e n d l y c o n t a c t with the individual c h e m i s t s and e n g i n e e r s int one or s e v e r a l r e s e a r c h g r o u p s . 2. W o r k s a.t u n c o v e r i n g p r e v i o u s l y unapp r e c i a t e d inventions as m a d e by r e s e a r c h and development personnel. 3 . Influences r e s e a r c h p e r s o n n e l t o r e d u c e t h e i r inventions t o w r i t i n g i n the f o r m of p r o p e r d i s c l o s u r e s a n d t r a n s m i t s t h e s e t o patent c o u n s e l . 4 . C o u n s e l s i n v e n t o r s with r e s p e c t t o a d d i t i o n a l w o r k r e q u i r e d i n defining t h e l i m i t s of inventions. 5. Influences the m a i n t e n a n c e of a p r o p e r r e c o r d keeping s y s t e m i n the r e s e a r c h groups s e r v e d .
C . T h e C o r p o r a t e C h e m i s t o r E n g i n e e r as P a t e n t Agent or S o l i c i t o r . Dow's ADDroach t o Utilization 1. S e l e c t s and a t t r a c t s f r o m e x i s t i n g r e s e a r c h a n d p a t e n t l i a i s o n p e r s o n n e l , the b e s t qualified t e c h n i c a l people a v a i l a b l e .
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2. Continuously m a i n t a i n s a g r o u p of "on the job t r a i n e e s " i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r the United S t a t e s P a t e n t Office E x a m i n a t i o n s f o r a g e n t , s o l i c i t o r o r patent l a w y e r . 3 . Maintains a balance in i t s c o r p o r a t e p a t e n t d e p a r t m e n t between patent a g e n t s and patent l a w y e r s . 4. E n c o u r a g e s the individual t r a i n e e independently t o study patent law and w r i t e national e x a m i n a t i o n s , as well a s t o o b t a i n g e n e r a l law d e g r e e by night s c h o o l , when a v a i k b l e , or o t h e r w i s e . F u n c t i o n s P e r f o r m e d by the P a t e n t Agent 1. Maintains f a m i l i a r i t y with l i t e r a t u r e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t s in one or s e v e r a l
t e c h n i c a l a r e a s of p r i m e i n t e r e s t t o the company. 2 . Works with patent l a w y e r s and r e s e a r c h l i a i s o n p e r s o n n e l t o uncover inventions and e n c o u r a g e sufficient d i s c l o s u r e of them. 3 . D r a f t s , f i l e s and p r o s e c u t e s d o m e s t i c patent a p p l i c a t i o n s . 4. C o u n s e l s r e s e a r c h p e r s o n n e l and a i d s i n planning r e s e a r c h . 5 . C o o p e r a t e s with and a s s i s t s f o r e i g n patent c o u n s e l . 6. W o r k s with patent l a w y e r s i n i n t e r - c o r p o r a t i o n negotiations and i n the d e t e r m i nation of the t e r m s of l i c e n s e s and agreements. 7 . C a r r i e s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the r e v i e w and a p p r o v a l of company t e c h n i c a l publications. 8. C o o p e r a t e s with g e n e r a l l e g a l d e p a r t m e n t i n patent and t e c h n i c a l m a t t e r s . 9. C o o p e r a t e s with outside c o u n s e l as l i a i s o n i n l i t i g a t i o n involving p a t e n t s , In c o n c l u s i o n , i t is t h e c o n s i d e r e d o b s e r vation of our people t h a t c o r p o r a t e c h e m i s t s and e n g i n e e r s have m a d e c r i t i c a l contributions in t h e p a s t o p e r a t i o n of o u r c o r p o r a t e patent s e c tion. Working s i d e by s i d e with p a t e a t l a w y e r s , t e c h n i c a l p e r s o n n e l c a n and will continue both a s patent l i a i s o n c h e m i s t s and a s patent a g e n t s t o enhance t h e i r own p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a t u s and f u r t h e r the o b j e c t i v e s of the patent d e p a r t m e n t of The Dow C h e m i c a l Company.
