Intangible Intangibles: Patent Law's Engagement with Dematerialised Subject Matter: 63 (Cambridge Intellectual Property and Information Law, Series Number 63)

Book Details:

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

• Author: Brad Sherman

• Language: English

• Edition: 1st Edition

• ISBN: 9781009479608

• Pages: 304

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 9.0 x 6.0 x 0.7 inches

About the Book:

In Dematerialisation and Patent Law, Brad Sherman explores the evolving concept of dematerialised subject matter in the context of U.S. patent law, especially in light of rapid advancements in information technology, molecular biology, and related fields. This timely and thought-provoking book challenges the perception that dematerialisation is a novel issue of the twenty-first century, providing a historical perspective on how patent law has grappled with non-material subject matter in the past.

Sherman examines three key historical instances where U.S. patent law confronted dematerialised subject matter: nineteenth-century chemical inventions, computer-related innovations in the 1970s, and biological subject matter throughout the twentieth century. By analyzing these cases, the book uncovers how the law adapted to these changes and considers the significant role that science and technology played in shaping the legal framework for patentable inventions.

Through these historical accounts, Sherman provides a comprehensive history of patentable subject matter in the United States, illustrating how patent law has evolved to accommodate inventions that do not fit traditional material definitions. This book is an essential resource for anyone interested in intellectual property law, the history of patent law, and the intersection of law and technological innovation. Available as Open Access on Cambridge Core, it offers valuable insights for scholars, legal practitioners, and anyone interested in the evolving relationship between law and emerging technologies.