Nanotechnology : legal aspects

Series foreword -- Author -- Introduction -- I: Protection -- Patents -- 1: Introduction -- Monopoly powers -- Licensing arrangements -- Discussion -- 2: Patentability requirements -- Structure of a patent -- Patentable subject matter -- Prior art -- Obviousness and scale factors -- Recap -- Discussion -- 3: Riding the patent office pony -- Current state of the US Patent Office -- Classification of nanotechnology patent applications -- Security review and secrecy orders -- Examination -- Appeals -- Special applications -- Discussion -- 4: Infringement issues -- Patent trolls -- Willful infringement -- Evaluating claim scope -- Opinions of counsel -- Designing around patents -- Reexamination of patents -- Declaratory judgments -- Patent thickets -- Assessment -- Discussion -- 5: Nanotech patents outside the United States -- Paris convention -- Patent cooperation treaty -- Discussion -- Copyrights -- 1: Introduction -- Discussion -- 2: Copyright requirements -- Fixation -- Originality -- Creativity -- Scope of copyright -- Fair use -- Where nanotechnology fits -- Discussion -- 3: Nanotech creations as artistic works -- Conventional art -- Nanosized sculpture -- Architectural works -- Literary works -- Musical works -- Discussion -- Integrated circuit topographies -- Discussion -- Trade secrets -- 1: What is a trade secret? -- 2: Patent or trade secret? -- 3: Remedies -- Discussion -- Ownership of nanotech intellectual property -- Nature of property -- 2: Joint ownership -- 3: Assignment obligations -- 4: Government interests -- Discussion -- Notes -- II: Regulation -- Delegation of power to agencies -- 1: Regulatory agencies -- 2: Rulemaking -- 3: Use of information by agencies -- 4: Information quality -- Discussion -- Examples of regulation of nanotechnology -- 1: Health and safety regulations -- US food and drug administration -- Center for biologics evaluation and research -- Center for devices and radiological health -- Center for drug evaluation and research -- Center for food safety and applied nutrition -- Center for veterinary medicine -- National center for toxicological research -- Classification of medical products -- Discussion -- 2: Environmental regulations -- Nanotechnology and the environment -- Discussion -- 3: Regulation of exports -- Classification -- Export administration regulations -- Fundamental research exclusion -- International traffic in arms regulations -- Office of foreign asset control -- Discussion -- Political and judicial control over agency action -- Political control by the legislature -- Political control by the executive -- Judicial control -- Discussion -- Notes -- III: Liability -- Introduction -- 1: Should scientists be held responsible for the use of their creations? -- Application of civil and criminal laws -- Importance of context -- Discussion -- Civil liability -- 1: Application of negligence to nanotechnology -- Duty and breach of duty -- Causation -- Damages -- Defenses -- Synopsis -- Discussion -- 2: Strict liability for nanotechnology products -- Risks associated with nanoparticles -- Concept of strict liability -- Learned intermediaries -- Conclusion -- Discussion -- 3: Warranty -- Express warranty -- Implied warranty of merchantability -- Implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose -- Disclaimer -- Discussion -- 4: Class actions -- Class-action criteria -- Certification -- Class-action settlements -- Underlying causes of action -- Regulatory role of class actions -- Attorney fees -- Discussion -- 5: Nanotechnology business organizations -- Corporations -- Piercing the corporate veil -- Derivative actions -- Discussion -- Criminal liability -- 1: Crimes using nanotechnology -- 2: Definition of crimes -- 3: Corporate criminal liability -- 4: Example: Application of US sentencing guidelines to nanotechnology crimes -- 5: International trends -- 6: Prevention and detection of crimes using nanotechnology -- Discussion -- Notes -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Index.