The Patent Act
The law governing the requirements and procedures for obtaining and enforcing patents for inventions.
United States
Laws available for this jurisdiction in plain English.
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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.
FDCPA: Harassment or Abuse
Debt collectors are prohibited from engaging in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person.
FDCPA: Validation of Debts
Within five days of first contact, a collector must send a written notice stating the amount of debt and the creditor's name.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
Modified the U.S. patent system from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system to align with international standards.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Addresses copyright challenges in the digital age, including safe harbor for internet providers and anti-circumvention of technology.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
Allows owners of trade secrets to sue in federal court for misappropriation, providing a uniform federal standard for protection.
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.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
A federal law that regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information.
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.
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
The federal statute that governs warranties on consumer products, requiring manufacturers to provide detailed information about warranty coverage.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Imposes requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age.
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.
Federal Trade Commission Act (Section 5)
Prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, giving the FTC authority to protect consumers from fraud and unfair business tactics.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information.
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
The federal statute that governs warranties on consumer products and prevents manufacturers from using deceptive warranty terms.
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
Protects consumers against inaccurate and unfair credit billing and credit card practices by requiring lenders to provide standardized info about costs.
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.
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.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Addresses digital copyright issues, including the circumvention of access controls and the liability of online service providers.
Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
The primary federal law governing trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition in the United States.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major overhaul of the US patent system that switched the system from 'first-to-invent' to 'first-inventor-to-file'.
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 rights to breeders of new, distinct, uniform, and stable varieties of plants that reproduce sexually or via tubers.
Semiconductor Chip Protection Act (SCPA)
Protects the 'mask works' (layout designs) of semiconductor chips, which are too functional for copyright and often not inventive enough for patents.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
The DMCA protects digital content and provides 'safe harbor' for internet service providers against liability for user-generated copyright infringement, provided they comply with takedown procedures.
Lanham Act (The Trademark Act of 1946)
This is the primary federal law governing trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition, establishing the system for federal trademark registration.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
This law updated the US patent system from a 'first-to-invent' to a 'first-inventor-to-file' system, aligning US law more closely with international standards.
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.
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
Protects the rights of employees to organize, form unions, and engage in collective bargaining.
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.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in all employment practices.
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
Ensures safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards.
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
Requires major employers to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs or plant closings.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry.
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
Prohibits the use of genetic information in making employment decisions and restricts the acquisition of genetic data.
Child Support Recovery Act of 1992
This federal law makes it a crime to willfully fail to pay child support for a child who lives in another state if the debt is overdue for more than a year or exceeds $5,000.
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA)
Federal law designed to ensure child safety and reduce the time children spend in foster care by setting strict timelines for permanency planning and adoption.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Federal law providing protections for victims of domestic violence, including specific provisions for family court safety and immigration relief for abused family members.
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
The federal law that governs consumer product warranties, ensuring warranties are clear and easy to understand.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
Prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect debts from consumers.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
Restricts telemarketing calls and the use of automated telephone equipment like autodialers and prerecorded messages.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
The DMCA addresses the relationship between copyright and the internet, establishing 'safe harbor' for online service providers and prohibiting the circumvention of digital locks (DRM).
The Lanham Act (Trademark Act of 1946)
The primary federal trademark statute in the U.S. that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition.
Economic Espionage Act of 1996 (EEA)
A federal law that makes the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets a federal crime, especially when it benefits a foreign entity.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Federal law establishing national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without consent.
Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act
Establishes the national standards for sending commercial email and gives recipients the right to have you stop emailing them.
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
Requires financial institutions to explain their information-sharing practices to their customers and to safeguard sensitive data.
Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA)
Protects a consumer's ability to share their honest opinions about a business's products or services in any forum, including social media.
Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA)
Protects consumers when they use electronic methods to manage or move money, including ATMs, debit cards, and automatic withdrawals.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information, to ensure accuracy and privacy.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A federal law that criminalizes the production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent digital rights management (DRM) and provides a 'safe harbor' for online service providers.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
A major reform that transitioned the U.S. patent system from a 'first-to-invent' model to a 'first-inventor-to-file' model, aligning it with international standards.
Economic Espionage Act (EEA)
Federal legislation that makes the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets a federal crime, especially when it benefits a foreign government.
Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA)
Allows owners of famous trademarks to prevent others from using similar marks in a way that reduces the distinctiveness of the famous mark, even without consumer confusion.
Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA)
A law designed to prevent 'cybersquatting,' which is the practice of registering internet domain names that are identical or confusingly similar to trademarks with the intent to profit from them.
Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA)
Provides legal protection to developers of new, distinct, uniform, and stable varieties of plants that reproduce by seed or tubers.
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Prevents manufacturers from using misleading or confusing warranties and sets standards for what must be disclosed in a written warranty.
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
Requires lenders to provide clear and standardized disclosures about the terms and costs of credit to help consumers compare options.
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
Restricts telemarketing calls, the use of automatic telephone dialing systems, and artificial or prerecorded voice messages.
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
A federal law that allows owners of trade secrets to sue in federal court when their secrets have been misappropriated.
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.
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.
Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA)
Established the Consumer Product Safety Commission and gave it authority to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for defective products.
Copyright Act of 1976
The primary federal statute governing copyright in the United States, establishing the rights of creators and the duration of protection.
Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA)
Protects trademark owners against individuals who register internet domain names in bad faith to profit from the goodwill of those trademarks.
Economic Espionage Act of 1996
A federal law that criminalizes the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets, particularly for the benefit of foreign entities.
Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (VARA)
Grants authors of visual art 'moral rights' to protect the integrity of their work and their reputation as creators.
Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006
Strengthens the ability of owners of famous trademarks to prevent uses that weaken the distinctiveness or reputation of their marks.
Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA)
Extended the duration of copyright protection by 20 years for works created both before and after its enactment.
Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act
A federal law that sets the rules for commercial email and provides consumers with the right to stop receiving unwanted marketing messages.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
A law designed to eliminate abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices by third-party collectors.
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
A federal law that requires lenders to provide standard disclosures about credit terms and costs so consumers can compare offers.
HIPAA Privacy Rule
Federal standards to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information, applying to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers.