John R. Thomas

John R. "Jay" Thomas (born 1967) is a professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center.

Early life and education Thomas received a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan and an LL.M. from the George Washington University Law School.

Career After law school, he was a law clerk to Helen W. Nies, then Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In 2019, Thomas suggested that patent "march-in rights", which permit the U.S. government to force licensure of certain patents, "might make drugmakers pause" before exacting excessive prices for their products, a view for which Thomas was criticized by Joseph Allen of IPWatchdog, who asserted that in a previous Congressional Research Service report, Thomas appeared to assert that such use of march-in rights would require further Congressional action.

Works Thomas has authored and co-authored many books, primarily in the field of intellectual property.

(Second Edition, 2022; Third Edition 2025)