30: Intellectual Property
- Page ID
- 11173
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)After reading this chapter, you should understand the following:
- The principal kinds of intellectual property
- The difference between patents and trade secrets, and why a company might choose to rely on trade secrets rather than obtain a patent
- What copyrights are, how to obtain them, and how they differ from trademarks
- Why some “marks” may not be eligible for trademark protection, and how to obtain trademark protection for those that are
- 30.1: Introduction to Intellectual Property
- This page discusses the importance of intellectual property (IP) for businesses, highlighting patents, copyrights, and trademarks as key protections for intangible creations. It explains how patents offer exclusive rights for 20 years, copyrights protect expressions, and trademarks secure brand identity. Other forms of IP, such as trade secrets and publicity rights, are also mentioned.
- 30.2: Patents
- This page explains the intricacies of patents, including their purpose, patentable subjects, application procedures, and infringement rights. It outlines that patents are exclusive rights for 20 years, protecting inventions and requiring thorough disclosure. The TRIPS Agreement mandates member countries to uphold intellectual property rights. Patent holders can license or transfer their patents and must navigate legal complexities regarding infringement.
- 30.3: Trade Secrets
- This page differentiates between trade secrets and patents, noting that trade secrets can provide indefinite protection and greater value. It defines trade secrets and addresses the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, which criminalizes their theft, while discussing the challenges of safeguarding them from employee theft. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of confidentiality agreements, competitive intelligence, and the rising threats of corporate espionage and cyber attacks.
- 30.4: Copyright
- This page explains copyright as legal protection for authors, granting exclusive rights for their works for the author's life plus 70 years. It covers fair use, the necessity of originality, and debates over copyright scope, especially in software. The complexities of authorship in films and music are discussed, including rights assignment and "works for hire.
- 30.5: Trademarks
- This page explains trademarks, defining them as identifiers for goods/services and discussing their types, legal protections, and eligibility criteria. It highlights issues like dilution, tarnishment, and the risks of losing rights through abandonment or generic use. Strategies for preventing generic status include using descriptive terms and enforcing marks. Governed by the Lanham Act, registration and distinctiveness are essential for protection.
- 30.6: Cases
- This page discusses two legal cases: Elvis Presley Enterprises v. Passport Video, where the court found Passport likely infringed Elvis's copyrights by using significant performance clips in a documentary, emphasizing commercial impact and market harm; and Playboy Enterprises v. Welles, where the Ninth Circuit ruled Welles' use of Playboy trademarks was mostly permissible as nominative use, except for the abbreviation "PMOY," which requires further review for potential trademark dilution.
- 30.7: Summary and Exercises
- This page outlines the legal protections for intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Patents last 20 years for novel inventions; copyrights protect creative works for the creator's lifetime plus 70 years; trademarks safeguard distinctive signs but risk loss if generic. It also presents hypothetical legal scenarios related to patent claims and non-compete agreements to elaborate on these concepts.