Joseph F. Murphy, Ph.D., is a Partner in the Intellectual Property group. A registered Patent Attorney, Dr. Murphy has over 20 years of experience practicing in all aspects of patent prosecution, including patent reissue and reexamination proceedings. Dr. Murphy’s practice also includes international patent prosecution, as well as opinion work, including validity, invalidity, infringement, and freedom to operate opinions, and preparation of Paragraph IV Notice Letters for ANDA filings. He is experienced in diversified technologies, especially in the biotechnological, chemical, and pharmaceutical arts.  

Dr. Murphy began his career at the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a Patent Examiner in the field of biotechnology where he was responsible for examining patents involving cytokines, chemokines, G protein-coupled receptors, Ion channels and other polypeptides. Most recently, Dr. Murphy was Counsel at Langer, Grogan & Diver P.C. 

Dr. Murphy is a frequent speaker/panelist on a wide range of intellectual property issues and has authored articles for numerous publications including Science, E-Commerce Times and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.  

Representative Experience

  • Represented a leading multinational life sciences company in freedom-to-operate clearance searches and in-licensing opportunity identification
  • Obtained patents for a method of diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s disease
  • Obtained patents for compositions and methods for gene therapy
  • Obtained patents for compositions and methods for treating viral infections
  • Obtained patents on a novel gene and the encoded protein that have antimicrobial activity against the bacteria which causes anthrax disease
  • Represented a generic pharmaceutical company in an Ex Parte Reexamination proceeding in which the claim at issue was found invalid by the Patent Office

Honors & Awards

Chair – Pennsylvania Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section

Rising Star, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2010-2013

Publications and Speeches

  • "Open COVID Pledge,” PBA Intellectual Property Law Section Newsletter, January, 2021 “Intellectual Property Sharing: Effects on Innovation,” Co-presenter, Bucks County Bar Association, November 2020
  • “Trademarks,” Speaker, Bucks County Bar Association Business Law Institute, August 2020
  • “Bayh-Dole Act Update,” Speaker, Bucks County Bar Association, April 2019
  • “IP Issues Created By Social Media,” Speaker, Bucks County Bar Association Business Law Institute, May 2018
  • “Advancing Technologies Impact on Litigation – Genetics,” Speaker, Bar Association of Lehigh County’s Judge Donald E. Wieand Barristers’ Inn of Court, November 2017
  • “Patent Subject Matter Eligibility: Updated Guidance for Protecting Your Inventions,” Speaker, In-House CLE Program, The Legal Intelligencer/ALM, June 2016
  • “Post Patent Grant AIA Proceedings,” Speaker, National Association of College and University Attorneys, 2014 Annual Conference, Denver, CO, June 22–25, 2014
  • “The New Patent Laws: Key Rules and Strategies You Need to Know,” Speaker, In-House CLE Program, The Legal Intelligencer/ALM, March 2013
  • “Immunizing Your Patents Against Invalidation: Lessons Learned From Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation,” Speaker, PA BIO Knowledge Fair and Summer Social, Malvern, PA, June 8, 2011
  • “Robot Inventors: Patently Impossible?” Co-author, Science 324 (5930), 1014-a (22 May 2009)
  • “Robots and the Law: Will the Real Inventor Please Stand Up?” Co-author, E-Commerce Times. 28 April 2009
  • “Biotechnology in the Courts,” Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2006
  • "The Federal Circuit on Inherent Anticipation, Obviousness, and Claim Construction, Author, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, PBI No. 2006-4403, pp. 274-292.

PLG Patent Video Series:

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association; Chair - Intellectual Property Law Section
  • Bucks County Bar Association

News, Events & Insights

Education

The George Washington University Law School, J.D.

University of Virginia, Ph.D., Physiology

St. Joseph’s University, B.S., Biology

Previous Experience

  • Langer, Grogan & Diver P.C.
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

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