Copyright, Trademark, and Patent Laws By: Chelsey Crawford and Jakia Clark

Definition of Copyright “A copyright grants the copyright holder exclusive rights to the reproduction, distribution, performance, display and adaptation of the work for the duration of the copyright.” “The copyright holder may sell or license his/her copyright to others.”

Copyright Laws “Only federal authorities may pass laws and regulations governing copyrights.” “Only federal courts can hear copyright infringement lawsuits.” “Federal authorities will not act independently in seeking to enforce copyrights--they will act only upon a complaint by a copyright holder.”

Definition of Trademark “Any name, symbol, figure, letter, word, or mark adopted and used by a manufacturer or merchant in order to designate his or her goods and to distinguish them from those manufactured or sold by others.” “Shapes, sounds, fragrances and colors may also be registered as trademarks.”

Trademark Laws “The first requirement, that a mark be used in commerce, arises because trademark law is constitutionally grounded in the congressional power to regulate interstate commerce.” “The second requirement, that a mark be, addresses a trademark's capacity for identifying and distinguishing particular goods as emanating from one producer or source and not another.”

Definition of Patent “The exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.”

Patent Laws “To obtain protection under U.S. law, the applicant must submit a patent application to the USPTO.” “It will be reviewed by an examiner to determine if the invention is patentable.” “U.S. law grants to patentees the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the invention.”

Works Cited ederal-copyright-laws.htmlhttp:// ederal-copyright-laws.html wse/Trademarkhttp:// wse/Trademark arkhttp://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/Tradem ark Patenthttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ Patent