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When does the specification limit the claims in a patent? When is it proper to present expert testimony in patent cases? Practicing patent attorneys and federal judges discuss these questions and offer practical advice and insight based on experience and current case law.

Patent Claim Construction
    I. Introduction
    II. Role of Public Notice in Whether the Specification Limits Scope of Claims
        A. Overview
        B. The Tobacco Case
        C. Wang Labs. v. America Online, Inc.
        D. Emphasis on Public Notice
        E. Three C’s for Patent Prosecutors
        F. Three C’s for Litigation Counsel
        G. Suggestions for Patent Examiners and Judges
        H. Questions and Answers
        I. Judge Michel’s Commentary
        J. The Athletic Alternatives Case
        K. Judge Pallmeyer’s Commentary
        L. Trace Language Backwards
    III. Role of Judges in Whether the Specification Limits Scope of Claims
        A. Judges Decide
        B. Ordinary & Accustomed Meaning of Claim Terms
        C. Exceptions to Ordinary & Accustomed Meaning
        D. Influencing the Judge’s Perception
        E. A Few Good Rules
        F. Showing a Claim is Inconsistent with the Specification
        G. Means-Plus-Function Language
        H. Claim Terms Not in the Specification
    IV. Using Experts in Claim Construction Hearings
        A. Federal Circuit Position on Expert Testimony
        B. When Is Expert Testimony Proper?
        C. Parol Evidence
        D. Contradicting the Intrinsic Evidence
        E. Judge Pallmeyer’s Commentary
        F. Judge Michel’s Commentary
        G. Conclusion
    AfterWords^SM