Chemistry and the Law

by Harold Goldwhite

In the previous column I traced the career of Humphry Davy to 1800. In 1801 he was invited by Count Rumford to a position at the relatively new Royal Institution in London. There Davy was eventually able to continue his own research, but first had to work up lectures on the chemistry of tanning, and with his usual thoroughness he did experiments on that subject; and on the applications of chemistry to agriculture. He later published a well-received book on that topic, and developed techniques of soil analysis.
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by Harold Goldwhite

Humphry Davy, perhaps the most romantic of all 19th century chemists, died on May 29, 1829, in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 50. Why the most romantic? Look at any portrait of Davy in his prime: the handsome face, the wavy hair, and the superb public manner. And he was also a poet, esteemed by Coleridge. All this and a great chemist, too. Yes, a romantic figure.
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By Harold Goldwhite

In the first of this two-part series on Max Planck, I sketched his career to the point where, in 1897, he began to work on explaining the phenomena of black-body radiation, a problem that had challenged some of the best physicists of the day and that they had failed to solve. At first, he tried combining electrodynamics and thermodynamics, but Boltzmann correctly criticized Planck’s formulation. Planck then successfully combined Wien’s work with that of Rayleigh and Jeans, but a satisfactory physical explanation was still lacking.
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We are pleased to announce the ‘grand opening’ of the CHAL discussion forums. To visit, click the “Discussion Forums” link above.

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by Harold Goldwhite

April, like most months, is rich in anniversaries of scientists who made major contributions to chemical sciences. Among them are James Watson, Robert Woodward, Carl Lindemann, and Glen Seaborg. But I choose to discuss the career of a great physicist whose work made such an impact on our science that it changed the thinking and work of every chemist who followed him. I refer to Max Karl Ernst Ludvig Planck, born in Kiel, Germany, on April 23 (a birthday he shares with Shakespeare), 1858.
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You can view our latest newsletter by clicking on “NEWSLETTERS” under the “ABOUT CHAL” tab on the right.

Also, please join CHAL at the Hilton Salt Lake City on Monday, March 23 for our semi-annual reception. The reception will last from 5-8PM and is generously sponsored by Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP. The hotel is downtown across from the convention center.

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It is with a heavy heart that I write my final Chair’s Message for CHAL. As many of you know, CHAL co-founder and Past Chair Jack Riley passed away at his home in California on April 5, 2008, at the age of 81.

In no way can I fully describe Jack’s wonderful life, impressive achievements and tremendous contributions to CHAL in my brief Chair’s Message, and I encourage everyone to read the poignant article about Jack written by CHAL co-founder and Past Chair Howard Peters, one of Jack’s closest friends. I would like, however, to say a few brief words about Jack and share some memories of Jack’s service to CHAL.
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By Chadwick Sullivan, Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery

On June 9, 2008, the Supreme Court decided Quanta Computers, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc., and limited a patent owner’s right to seek payment for using a method once a product using the method is sold. The Court held that the authorized sale of a product incorporating a patented method “exhausts” the patentee’s right to seek payment for use of the patented method from a purchaser of the product. As a result, purchasers of the product are free to use the patented method without a separate payment to the patentee.
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A conversation between Brian Treco and Nhung McLeland

Brian: Nhung, to many of us, that sounds like a very silly question. After all, the answer is “I do”, isn’t it? Well, we know that surprisingly often, that is NOT the case in the United States for inventors who are employees. My read is that under U.S. laws ownership vests initially in the actual inventor(s) of an invention. However, an employee-inventor may not have retained that ownership. How can it be that an employee may invent it, but not have sole ownership, or even co-ownership of the invention?
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Loyalty. It is arguably the most fundamental and important duty an attorney owes each and every client. As Chair of the Division of Chemistry and the Law, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and loyalty to those who have contributed to CHAL’s success as a Division over the past twenty-five years.
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