U.S. Patent/Intellectual Property Law: What Should Engineers Know?

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff E. Schwartz ◽  
Richard T. Girards ◽  
Karen A. Borrelli

Abstract Engineers, by the practice of their profession, regularly apply new methods and products to the end of solving old problems. These new methods and products may prove to be both commercially useful and financially valuable. The U.S. intellectual property system can afford such innovations broad protection from old fashioned “poaching” by securing for their creators/inventors powerful legal rights to such innovations.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (19) ◽  
pp. 145-155
Author(s):  
Nor Azlina Mohd Noor ◽  
Ahmad Shamsul Abd Aziz ◽  
Mazita Mohamed

A celebrity has its own persona and has a right that can be protected by the law. The status of a celebrity can be obtained in certain circumstances such as through birth or descent as well as through skills or occupation. Celebrity rights are special and unique rights. This is because the right seems to be the property and belongs to the celebrity. The words celebrity is often associated with fame, money, power, publicity, extravaganza, achievements, fandom, culture, and is sometimes matters relating to scandal or even for something shameful. Accordingly, the public has no right to arbitrarily use the celebrity's right. Celebrity rights can be made up of three main rights which are personality, privacy, and publicity rights. In the age of social media, almost everyone can be a celebrity. Therefore, legal protection for celebrities is very important to be discussed. In Malaysia, there is no specific legislation regarding celebrity rights such as those found in other countries such as the United States. An issue that needs to be taken into account is in the absence of the specific law, how do the rights of these celebrities are legally protected in Malaysia. Therefore, this article discusses celebrity rights and related laws in Malaysia, especially under intellectual property law. This article applied the method of legal research through library research. This article concludes that while Malaysia does not have any specific legal provisions for celebrity rights, the infringement of celebrity rights can be catered upon through a variety of relevant laws such as intellectual property law like several provisions relating to copyright and trademark protection. In addition, with the advent of social media, celebrity rights are also protected by laws such as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Privacy-related laws such as the Tort law and the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 can also be used to protect these celebrity rights.


2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Gilbert

In their recent book, Against Intellectual Monopoly, Michele Boldrin and David Levine conclude that patents and copyrights are not necessary to provide protection for either innovation or creative expression and should be eliminated. The authors note the many flaws of the U.S. system of intellectual property protection and argue that other means are available to appropriate the benefits of invention and creative expression. While the authors overlook important functions of intellectual property, they provide support for further reforms of intellectual property law. (JEL K11, O31, O34)


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Sohaib Mukhtar

Protection of trademark in Islamic Law is covered under verses of the Holy Quran and traditions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Trademark is one of the component of Intellectual Property Law, which is protected under Islamic Law. Islamic law are those teachings which were revealed on the last prophet Muhammad ﷺ, for the betterment of human beings in both worlds. Islamic Law protects rights of an individual whether they are material like property rights or immaterial like Intellectual Property rights. Protection of wealth is one of the Maqasid-ul-Sharia, which is the public right and are fully preserved under an Islamic Law. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran that “Do not eat the property of another with unlawful means except with a valid agreement, solemnized with a valid consent from both sides”. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that he who copies another’s work is not one of us. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to Syria as a trader with the wealth of his preceding wife Hazrat Khadija RA. Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Bukhari used to work as traders besides their exceptional works in Fiqh and Hadith. All types of trade and investment activities are valid, legal and protected under Islamic Law unless clearly prohibited by Almighty Allah in the Holy Quran or by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Sunnah. The transaction must be clear from Riba/Interest; which is an excess that has no corresponding consideration in exchange of property for property. The subject matter of the transaction must not be uncertain, and the purpose of the transaction and the activities governed under the contract must be legal under the light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Intellectual Property is protected under Islamic Law, which is that area of law, which concerns legal rights, associated with creative efforts, commercial reputation and good will. Intellectual Property Law includes patent for the protection of inventions, copyright for the protection of literary and artistic works and trademark for the protection of marks, signs, words and trade names, which distinguishes goods and services of one undertaking from goods and services of other undertakings, which must be distinctive and non-descriptive because an undescriptive trademark is a unique trademark which is easy to be registered and adhered by the public at large. The purpose of trademark is to provide an opportunity to the public to distinguish goods and services of one undertaking from goods and services of other undertakings and to adhere the source of goods and services. Trademark is protected under Islamic Law, but it does not allow the right holder to held illegal activities under a legal trademark. The trademark which is protected under Islamic Law is that trademark which is used for the promotion of legitimate goods and services.


Author(s):  
Mark J. Davison ◽  
Ann L. Monotti ◽  
Leanne Wiseman

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