The Patent Act
The law governing the requirements and procedures for obtaining and enforcing patents for inventions.
Intellectual Property
Laws filed under this category in plain English.
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Copyright Act of 1976
Grants creators of original works exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works for a limited time.
Patent Act (Title 35 U.S. Code)
Provides inventors with exclusive rights to their novel, non-obvious, and useful inventions for a limited period, typically 20 years.
Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
Governs federal trademark law, protecting brand names, logos, and slogans used in commerce to distinguish goods and services.
Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA)
Establishes a federal cause of action for the misappropriation of trade secrets, allowing trade secret owners to sue in federal court.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that allows companies to sue in federal court for the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets.
United States Patent Act
The comprehensive statute that defines what can be patented and the requirements for obtaining a patent for new and useful inventions.
The Patent Act
Provides inventors with the exclusive right to exclude others from making, using, or selling their inventions for a limited time.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The comprehensive statute governing intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom, covering copyright, designs, and patents.
Copyright Act of 1976
The primary law governing copyright in the U.S., protecting original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression.
Lanham Act
The federal statute that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major reform that switched the U.S. patent system from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Implements two 1996 WIPO treaties and addresses the relationship between copyright and the internet, specifically targeting technology that circumvents digital rights management.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
Creates a federal cause of action for trade secret misappropriation, allowing companies to sue in federal court.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that allows businesses to sue in federal court when their trade secrets have been stolen or misappropriated.
CASE Act of 2020
Establishes the Copyright Claims Board (CCB), a voluntary forum for resolving small-value copyright disputes outside of federal court.
Copyright Act of 1976
The primary federal statute governing copyright in the United States, protecting original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium.
The Lanham Act
The federal statute that provides for a national system of trademark registration and protects owners of federally registered marks against the use of similar marks if such use is likely to result in consumer confusion.
The Patent Act
Grants inventors the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling their invention for a specific period of time.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A law aimed at updating copyright protections for the digital age, specifically addressing online infringement and digital locks.
Copyright Act of 1976
The primary basis of copyright law in the United States, protecting original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression.
Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
The federal statute that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition in the United States.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A law aimed at updating copyright law for the digital age, addressing the circumvention of digital rights management (DRM) and online service provider liability.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A significant reform of the U.S. patent system that shifted the country from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system.
Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA)
A federal law that allows companies to sue in federal court for the misappropriation of trade secrets, providing a uniform national standard.
Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act
Establishes a voluntary small claims board within the U.S. Copyright Office to resolve low-value copyright disputes efficiently.
U.S. Copyright Act of 1976
The primary law governing copyright protection for original works of authorship, including literary, musical, and artistic works.
Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
The federal statute that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition, protecting brand names and logos used in commerce.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
An update to copyright law addressing the challenges of digital content and the internet, specifically targeting the circumvention of encryption.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major reform to the U.S. patent system that shifted the country from a 'first-to-invent' system to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that provides a uniform standard for trade secret misappropriation and allows companies to sue in federal court.
Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act
Establishes a voluntary small-claims board within the U.S. Copyright Office to resolve copyright disputes without expensive federal litigation.
United States Patent Act
Provides the legal framework for the granting and enforcement of patents for new and useful inventions.
The Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
The primary federal law in the US that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Addresses copyright issues in the digital age, including digital rights management and internet service provider liability.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
Created a federal cause of action for trade secret misappropriation, allowing owners to sue in federal court.
Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)
Provides patent-like protection to breeders of new, distinct, uniform, and stable plant varieties.
Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984
Provides specialized protection for the layout designs (mask works) of integrated circuits.
The Lanham Act (The Trademark Act of 1946)
The primary federal law in the United States that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A federal law designed to manage digital rights and provide a framework for copyright enforcement on the internet.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major overhaul of the US patent system that transitioned the country from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that allows businesses to sue in federal court when their trade secrets have been stolen or misappropriated.
Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)
Provides legal protection to developers of new, distinct, uniform, and stable varieties of plants which reproduce sexually or by tubers.
Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act
Law that extended the duration of copyright protection for works created on or after January 1, 1978.
Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
The primary federal law in the United States governing trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A law that criminalizes the production and dissemination of technology intended to circumvent digital rights management (DRM) and provides safe harbors for service providers.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major reform that shifted the U.S. patent system from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that allows companies to sue in federal court for the misappropriation of trade secrets.
Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)
Provides patent-like protection to breeders of new, distinct, uniform, and stable plant varieties.
Semiconductor Chip Protection Act (SCPA)
Protects the layout designs of integrated circuits, known as mask works.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A law that implements international treaties and addresses copyright challenges in the digital age, specifically regarding online service providers and digital rights management.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
Major patent reform that transitioned the U.S. patent system from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-to-file' system.
The Lanham Act
The primary federal statute that regulates trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
Provides a federal cause of action for the misappropriation of trade secrets, allowing cases to be brought in federal court rather than just state court.
Trademark Modernization Act of 2020
Updates trademark law to streamline the process for removing unused trademark registrations and clarifies the standard for court injunctions.
Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act
Established a voluntary small-claims board within the U.S. Copyright Office to resolve copyright disputes without the high cost of federal court.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The comprehensive statute governing IP law in the UK, covering copyright for creative works, design rights, and patent regulations.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
The DMCA protects digital content and shields internet service providers from liability for their users' copyright infringements if they follow specific 'take down' rules.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
This act transitioned the U.S. patent system from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system and created new ways to challenge patents.
The Lanham Act
The primary federal law in the United States that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that allows companies to sue in federal court for the theft (misappropriation) of trade secrets.
Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act
Established a small-claims board within the Copyright Office to resolve low-value copyright disputes more affordably than federal court.
Trademark Modernization Act (TMA)
Provides new tools to clear the federal trademark register of unused marks and clarifies the standard for getting injunctions in trademark cases.
The Lanham Act
The federal statute that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Updated copyright law to address the digital age, criminalizing the circumvention of digital rights management and providing 'safe harbor' for online service providers.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major reform of the U.S. patent system that shifted the country from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
Allows owners of trade secrets to sue in federal court when their trade secrets have been misappropriated.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The main piece of legislation in the UK covering copyright, design rights, and the framework for patents.