Professor Donald S. Chisum is the author of the fifteen-volume reference text on patent law, Chisum on Patents published by Matthew Bender, a part of Lexis Publishing, and co-author with Michael Jacobs of the text, Understanding Intellectual Property (1992). Professor Chisum continually supplements and revises the Patents Treatise to include patent law developments.

Chisum on Patents is the one of the recognized leading authority on U.S. patent law. This is frequently cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. Chisum on Patents provides the practitioner with all of the information required to procure and protect patentable inventions. Chisum on Patents provide a comprehensive resource covering all of the various areas of U.S. patent law, including validity, infringement and significant precedents as determined by case law and amended statutes. Chisum on Patents gives detailed explanation on the chronological evolution of a legal area, including its current status in the patent world and possible future direction. Additionally, major court decisions, patent statutes and regulations are detailed throughout this work. Chisum on Patents also features the Federal Circuit Guide, a series of abstracts -arranged by topic and date- of all of the published decisions of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals since the Court began in 1982. Furthermore, there are hundreds of footnotes throughout Chisum on Patents that furnish the subscriber with complete documentation to landmark/current court decisions.

Chisum on Patents encompasses the substantive law of patents in the United States - the principles, doctrines and rules concerning patentability, validity, and infringement.  This treatise discusses the historical background, statutory provisions, and major court decisions on each subject area.  It includes in the footnotes complete documentation and citation to all significant court decisions.  It is intended to serve as a research source to practicing attorneys and others as well as a guide for those who wish to learn the basics of patent law.

Patent misuse is one topic addressed in Chisum on Patents. Patent misuse involves conduct wherein the patentee (patent owner) attempts to expand the patent beyond the legal subject matter to which the patentee is entitled. Donald Chisum, in his treatise Chisum on Patents defines patent issues as follows:
“A patent owner may exploit his patent in an improper manner by violating the antitrust laws or extending the patent beyond its lawful scope.”

Chisum on Patents says that “ If such misuse if found, the courts will typically withhold any remedy for infringement of the patents.” This is generally true even if the infringer was not harmed by the misuse.