A Brief Introduction to United States Intellectual Property
64 Pages Posted: 15 May 2017 Last revised: 18 Jul 2017
Date Written: May 11, 2017
Abstract
This reader provides a brief introduction to United States intellectual property law. It begins with a discussion of the meaning of the term “intellectual property,” which is used to describe a collection of different private rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other exclusive rights in intangible things. It describes the subject matter, scope, and limitations of the different kinds of intellectual property rights by explaining the relevant statutes and doctrines, providing summaries of important cases, and asking questions about their application. It is intended to facilitate reflection on the purpose and justification of intellectual property rights.
Keywords: intellectual property, misappropriation, trade secrets, patents, design patents, copyrights, trademarks, right to privacy, right of publicity
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