Not So Obvious: An Introduction to Patent Law and Strategy Paperback – September 8, 2015

Used this text for Jeff's class on patent law at Stanford (I'm an engineering PhD with no previous patent law experience). Very straightforward and easy to digest -- you could read the whole book in a day, and yet the information is very deep and rich. The case law examples provided are very interesting and relevant -- I have already found myself citing them in conversations about patent strategy with colleagues. Highly recommended to any newcomer in the patent space!

This book is as advertised - an excellent introduction to patent law. I was interested in something a little more deep though... I'm not a lawyer & hadn't planned on drafting anything, but wanted a more nuanced understanding of how patents get overturned after years of being on the books etc. I had bought this book along with "Invention Analysis and Claiming" by Slusky, and between the two of them found Slusky's book to leave me more satisfied about the details of the claims, although it's also much longer! Ultimately happy with this purchase too though, as it includes lots of condensed information about the entire ecosystem.

The title is a double entendre, referring to both the not-so-obvious nature of innovations that makes them patentable, but also the many aspects of patent law that aren't obvious based on the basic descriptions of patents and patent law that are salient in popular culture. Useful for people who are just curious about the details of patent law, or those who might be about to risk a career/company/lot of money on a potentially flawed assumption of how patent law works.

Simple to understand for complete beginners with clear explanations and useful examples

I loved this book. As a software engineer I have several software patents and have a working knowledge of many of the terms, but the author does a good job tying all the terms together and really explaining the true definitions. He gives good examples non-obviousness and novelty...and the case law references do a good job explaining areas/pitfalls we inventors typically ignore..that could ultimately decrease the value of our patents.If you are an inventor or looking to start..check out this book.

Articulate and approachable overview of patent law and strategy, useful for those working on their own inventions as well as those simply interested in understanding intellectual property

Pros-- Well organized. Each chapter "fits." I like the paragraph spacing, which makes it easy to digest.- Perfect primer for someone like me who has no experience with patent law.Cons-- Author goes in and out with past cases. I'm not sure when he's quoting cases or what's his own thoughts. The transitions aren't that good.- The author doesn't summarize the cases...it's unclear what lessons can be drawn the cases he cites.Overall, well organized but it needs some work. It's a long way from what I would consider a finished work.

The book explains complicated subjects and makes them accessible and fun to those like me with no prior knowledge. If you are an entrepreneur interested in learning about patent law this is a great start.I find that it is often hard to find good, updated and reliable information in one place. In my opinion you can find that in this book!