The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc., 137 S. Ct. 1002 (2017) Case Summary of Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc.: Varsity Brands sued Star Athletica for infringement of its design of cheerleading uniforms. The lower courts disagreed as to whether the design could be separated from the utilitarian function of the uniform […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Matal v. Tam, 137 S. Ct. 1744 (2017) Case Summary of Matal v. Tam: Simon Tam and his band, “The Slants,” tried to register the band’s name with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The PTO denied the registration, finding that the band name was disparaging to Asians in violation of the Disparagement Clause […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003) Case Summary of Eldred v. Ashcroft: Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act, which extends a copyright from 50 years after the death of the author to 70 years. Petitioners, a group of individuals and businesses who benefit from works that come into the public domain, sued in […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Baker v. Selden, 101 U.S. 99 (1879) Case Summary of Baker v. Selden: Selden wrote a series of books on bookkeeping, which included forms to employ the bookkeeping system explained in the books. Baker sold books with forms similar to Selden’s forms. Selden’s estate sued Baker for copyright infringement. The District Court found that Baker did […]
Read moreProprietary information is information that a company wishes to keep secret. This type of information can include everything from a recipe, to a specific formula, or a design plan that is used to make a company’s products. It can also extend to a company’s salary structure, employment contracts, and marketing plans. An example of proprietary information, in some cases, might […]
Read moreA trademark is a symbol, design, word, or phrase that identifies one business’ goods or services from those of another. A company may come up with a design that is unique, to stand as a symbol of the company, or a product. For example, McDonald’s has a trademark that is recognized worldwide – a giant yellow “M.” Trademarks in the […]
Read moreA copyright is a formal declaration that the owner is the only one with the right to publish, reproduce, or sell a particular artistic work. The protection of a copyright is granted by the government, and covers original literary (writings), dramatic (stage and film) musical, artistic, and other creations. To explore this concept, consider the following copyright definition. Definition of […]
Read moreThe term “assets” refers to things owned by people or entities that have, or are expected to have, economic value. Assets can come in many forms including cash, bank accounts, investments, collectible items, personal possessions, and real property. The value of an individual’s or entity’s assets is offset by the amount of their debts, and comes into play when seeking […]
Read moreIntellectual property refers to creations of the human mind, whether creative or intellectual, such as art and designs, literary works, music, and the names, symbols, and images used in business. The ownership of intellectual property is categorized into four groups: copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secrets. Ownership of such property provides exclusive rights, providing the owner protection against unauthorized use […]
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