IP Litigation Resources - Miller Johnson

Welcome to IP Litigation Resources

Our Intellectual Property Litigation Resources library is a trusted hub for staying ahead in the fast-paced world of IP law. Designed with client needs in mind, it offers tailored solutions and strategic guidance across a wide range of IP-related topics. Whether you’re preparing for trial, managing ongoing disputes, or seeking clarity on complex legal issues, our resources provide practical, one-stop insights—available 24/7 – empowering you to streamline your workflow and make informed decisions with confidence.

Presentations

Our IP Litigation attorneys frequently provide presentations on substantive issues of intellectual property and entertainment law at the behest of clients and for Continuing Legal Education events. Some of these presentations deemed most responsive to client’s frequent questions are provided below for your convenient reference.

Local Rules & Trade Secrets Maps

Local Patent Rules Map

Trade Secrets Map

Copyright Resources

Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices

The Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices is a manual produced by the U.S. copyright office to be used as a guide for copyright policies and procedures. Unlike the copyright act, the compendium does not have the force of law, but it can be cited to as persuasive authority.

Copyright Circulars

Copyright Circulars provide an informal explanation of the rules and regulations involved in copyright law. They provide basic information for individuals seeking to obtain and maintain a copyright registration.

Search Copyright Records

The Copyright Public Records Catalog allows users to search for copyrights from 1978 to the present.

Copyright Registration Portal

The Electronic Copyright Office allows users to register basic copyright claims online. In addition, registrants may use eCO to submit some (but not all) types of deposit copies.

Patent Resources

Google Patents

Google Patents, or patents.google.com, is a search engine developed by Google that indexes patents and patent applications from over 15 different countries. Unlike a simple, literal database query, Google Patents’ search engine appears to compile data from numerous sources to discern what results may be most relevant. This feature makes it a useful tool when searching for particular patents, conducting prior art searches, or analyzing portfolios.

Patent Center

Patent Center is a system located within the USPTO website for displaying information regarding patent application status. Patent Center is designed to provide public access to the dockets, file histories (also known as “file wrappers”), and application data of published patent applications. The system has only very limited search functionality, so you will need an exact patent, application, or publication number to find documents on Patent Center.

USPTO Patent Public Search

Patent Public Search incorporates the functionality available formerly through the Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT), and the Patent Application Full-Text and Image Database (AppFT) under its Basic Search function. Patent Public Search also offers a flexible and powerful Advanced Search function that allows the use of full query options as well as the ability to further filter a patent search by database.

USPTO CPC Search

The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system was initiated as a joint partnership between the USPTO and the EPO to harmonize their existing patent classification systems (USPC and ECLA, respectively). Finding the appropriate CPC code for an invention can make searches for similar prior art substantially easier.

Patent Trial Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS)

The Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS) is a system designed for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board) for the purpose of electronically filing or searching documents in connection with the Inter Partes Disputes established under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) such as inter partes review, post grant review, etc.

Patent Assignment Database

The Patent Assignment Database is a searchable database containing all recorded patent assignment information.

Manual of Patent Examining Procedure

The Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, or MPEP, sets forth the laws and regulations that must be followed in the examination of patent applications. The MPEP is published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for use by both patent attorneys and examiners.

WIPO Patentscope Search

The World Intellectual Property Organization hosts a search platform that enables searching a database of 112 million patent documents, including 4.6 million published international patent applications (PCT).

Trademark Resources

Trademark Electronic Search System (TEAS)

The Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) landing page provides all of the links and resources needed to apply for a Trademark, as well as information on average wait times in receiving a response to your filing.

Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)

The Trademark Electronic Search System, or TESS, is a search engine on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website that allows visitors to search the database of registered trademarks and prior trademark applications.

Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP)

The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, or TMEP, sets forth the laws and regulations that must be followed to apply for and maintain a trademark in the United States. The TMEP is published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for use by trademark attorneys and examiners.

Statutes

This page links to, and briefly summarizes, statutes commonly implicated in intellectual property matters and disputes.

Federal Practice & Procedure

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or Fed. R. Civ. P., are the official rules governing how civil lawsuits may progress in federal United States district courts. These rules govern topics including: pleadings, discovery, motions, defenses, counterclaims, etc.

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, or Fed. R. App. P., are the official rules governing how appeals progress before the United States Courts of Appeals.

Federal Rules of Evidence

The Federal Rules of Evidence are the rules governing what evidence may be used in both civil and criminal trials, and the procedures controlling how that evidence must be introduced and how it may be used.

Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)

The Public Access to Court Electronic Records service, or PACER, is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information online from federal, district, and bankruptcy courts. It provides access to most documents filed in legal proceedings before the federal courts, albeit for a fee.

Jury Instructions

Jury instructions are legal rules for jurors to follow when deciding the outcome of a case. These instructions vary among judicial circuits and districts. Circuits having model jury instructions are linked below: