Foundations
This clause in the U.S. Constitution grants Congress power to protect inventions and creative works.
A: What is the Intellectual Property Clause (Article I, Section 8)?
This type of patent protects new and useful inventions or processes.
A: What is a utility patent?
This type of work is automatically protected by copyright the moment it's fixed in a tangible medium.
A: What is an original work of authorship?
This IP right protects words, names, symbols, or logos that identify the source of goods.
A: What is a trademark?
This 2016 federal law created a federal civil cause of action for trade secret misappropriation.
A: What is the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)?
This federal agency handles patent and trademark registrations.
A: What is the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)?
This is the standard patent term (from filing) for utility patents in the U.S.
A: What is 20 years?
This doctrine allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism or education.
A: What is fair use?
This symbol indicates a registered trademark with the USPTO.
A: What is ®?
This famous soft drink formula is a classic example of a trade secret rather than a patent.
A: What is the Coca-Cola formula?
This is the general term for creations of the mind protected by law, including patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
A: What is intellectual property?
This type of patent protects the ornamental design of a functional item.
A: What is a design patent?
For an individual author, copyright generally lasts for the author's life plus this many years.
A: What is 70 years?
A trademark can theoretically last this long, as long as it's still in use.
A: What is forever (indefinitely)?
This type of agreement is commonly used to protect trade secrets when sharing information with employees or partners.
A: What is a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)?
This IP right protects confidential business information giving a competitive edge, without requiring registration.
A: What is a trade secret?
This requirement means an invention must not be obvious to someone skilled in the field.
A: What is non-obviousness?
This type of work, ideas, facts, and processes cannot be protected by copyright.
A: What is an unprotectable element
This term describes a trademark that has become the common name for a product, losing its protection.
A: What is generic?
Unlike patents, trade secrets can be protected indefinitely as long as they remain this.
A: What is secret (not publicly known)?
This federal agency oversees copyright registration.
A: What is the U.S. Copyright Office?
5 June is the birthday of which famous and amazing teacher.
Erin Moody :)
This exclusive right lets a copyright holder control the creation of new works based on the original.
A: What is the right to prepare derivative works?
This test courts use to determine trademark infringement asks whether consumers would experience this.
A: What is likelihood of confusion?
This term describes wrongfully acquiring, using, or disclosing a trade secret.
A: What is misappropriation?