John R. Thomas

Jay Thomas, class of 1985, is a professor of law at Georgetown University.

What is John R. Thomas known for?

John R. "Jay" Thomas, born in 1967, is a distinguished alumnus of Joppatowne High School in Joppa, Maryland. An expert on legal matters, Thomas went on from his high school days to earn a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He furthered his education by attaining a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan and an LL.M. from George Washington University Law School, solidifying his legal acumen and expertise.

Upon completion of law school, Thomas served as a law clerk to Helen W. Nies, who was Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Since 1999, Thomas has held the position of visiting scholar at the Congressional Research Service, where he has assisted in the enactment of significant legislation, such as the American Inventors Protection Act and the America Invents Act.

Thomas has been part of the faculties at Cornell University, George Washington University, and even internationally at the University of Tokyo. He has also served as a visiting scholar at esteemed institutions overseas like the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law in Munich, Germany, and the Institute of Intellectual Property in Tokyo, Japan.

Thomas' contribution to the field of law extends to his published works, many of which focus on intellectual property. His books include "Pharmaceutical Patent Law", "Principles of Patent Law", and "Vaccine, Vaccination, and Immunization Law" among several others. Notable among his works is the first edition of "Pharmaceutical Patent Law" which was well-reviewed and referred to as "an excellent treatise that will be very well regarded for years to come" and "surprisingly readable".

Interesting to note is Thomas' stance on patent "march-in rights", a perspective that suggests such measures might cause drug manufacturers to reconsider exacting excessive prices for their products. This view, however, was criticized by some contemporaries in the field.

For detailed information about John R. "Jay" Thomas, visit his faculty page at Georgetown University Law Center and for additional insight into his hometown, check out the Harford County government page about Joppa, Maryland.