Intellectual Property Law Commons^™

Five Oft-Repeated Questions About China's Recent Rise As A Patent Power, Peter K. Yu

Peter K. Yu

Policymakers, industries, commentators and the media have widely criticized China for its failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights. In recent years, however, the discourse on intellectual property developments in China has slowly begun to change. Such a change is the most notable in the patent area. Today, China is already among the top five countries filing patent applications through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In 2011, the number of PCT applications increased by 33.4% to 16,406, earning China the fourth spot, behind only the United States, Japan and Germany. Among all the applicants, ZTE Corp. and Huawei Technologies had …

Trademark's Judicial De-Evolution: Why Courts Get Trademark Cases Wrong Repeatedly, Glynn Lunney

Glynn Lunney

Trademark law has de-evolved. It has transitioned from an efficient mechanism for ensuring competition into an inefficient regime for capturing economic rents. In this Article, I focus on the role that party self-interest has played in biasing the evolution of trademark law. This self-interest tends to lead parties to (1) challenge efficient legal rules and seek to replace them with inefficient, anticompetitive rules, and (2) accede to inefficient, anticompetitive rules once they are in place. Almost by definition, when a rule of trademark law promotes competition, it reduces the market surplus or rents that current producers capture. As a result, …

By Reading This Title, You Have Agreed To Our Terms Of Service, Brian Larson

Brian Larson

Misconstruing Whistleblower Immunity Under The Defend Trade Secrets Act, Peter S. Menell

Peter Menell

In crafting the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA), Congress went beyond the federalization of state trade secret protection to tackle a broader social justice problem: the misuse of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to discourage reporting of illegal activity in a variety of areas. The past few decades have witnessed devastating government contracting abuses, regulatory violations, and deceptive financial schemes that have hurt the public and cost taxpayers and investors billions of dollars. Congress recognized that immunizing whistleblowers from the cost and risk of trade secret liability for providing information to the Government could spur law enforcement. But could this …

What We Buy When We "Buy Now", Aaron Perzanowski, Chris Jay Hoofnagle

Chris Jay Hoofnagle

The Insurability Of Claims For Restitution, Christopher French

Christopher C. French

The Insurability Of Claims For Restitution, Christopher French

Christopher C. French

Reviewing The (Shrinking) Principle Of Trademark Exhaustion In The European Union (Ten Years Later), Irene Calboli

Irene Calboli

No abstract provided.

Invisible Labor, Invisible Play: Online Gold Farming And The Boundary Between Jobs And Games, Julian Dibbell

Julian Dibbell

When does work become play, and play work? Courts have considered the question in a variety of economic contexts, from student athletes seeking recognition as employees to professional blackjack players seeking to be treated by casinos just like casual players. Here I apply the question to a relatively novel context: that of online gold farming, a gray-market industry in which wage-earning workers, largely based in China, are paid to play online fantasy games (MMOs) that reward them with virtual items their employers sell for profit to the same games’ casual players. Gold farming is clearly a job (and under the …

Nsfw: An Empirical Study Of Scandalous Trademarks, Megan M. Carpenter

Megan M Carpenter

This project is an empirical analysis of trademarks that have received rejections based on the judgment that they are “scandalous." It is the first of its kind. The Lanham Act bars registration for trademarks that are “scandalous” and “immoral.” While much has been written on the morality provisions in the Lanham Act generally, this piece is the first scholarly project that engages an empirical analysis of 2(a) rejections based on scandalousness; it contains a look behind the scenes at how the morality provisions are applied throughout the trademark registration process. We study which marks are being rejected, what evidence is …

Trademark Law And Status Signaling: Tattoos For The Privileged, Jeffrey L. Harrison

Jeffrey L Harrison

The motivations for buying a good or service are highly complex. At the most basic level, people buy goods because of what the goods do or because of the aesthetic elements they embody. More technically, buyers derive utility from the "functional" quality of these goods. Another motivation relates to what the goods "say" about the buyer. Here, the good is a signaling device. Signaling is not new, of course, and can indicate anything from social class to political leanings. This Essay addresses the issue of whether it should be public policy to subsidize this type of person-to-person status signaling. This …

Cracking The Cable Conundrum: Government Regulation Of A La Carte Models In The Cable Industry, Jade Brewster

Jade Brewster

This Article examines the practice of cable bundling, a term describing how cable providers offer channels in “packages” of channels rather than allowing consumers to buy channels individually. These cable bundles have been criticized by politicians, academics, and the public alike, many of whom believe cable bundling simultaneously increases the price of cable and forces consumers to pay for programming they neither want nor use. Politicians have responded to these criticisms by advocating for legislation requiring cable companies to offer a la carte pricing options, in which customers can pick and choose individual channels. But evidence that an a la …

The Evolution Of The Digital Millennium Copyright Act; Changing Interpretations Of The Dmca And Future Implications For Copyright Holders, Hillary A. Henderson

Hillary A Henderson

Copyright law rewards an artificial monopoly to individual authors for their creations. This reward is based on the belief that, by granting authors the exclusive right to reproduce their works, they receive an incentive and means to create, which in turn advances the welfare of the general public by “promoting the progress of science and useful arts.” Copyright protection subsists . . . in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or …

E-Commerce And Electronic Payment System Risks: Lessons From Paypal, Lawrence J. Trautman

Lawrence J. Trautman Sr.

What are the major risks perceived by those engaged in e-commerce and electronic payment systems? What development risks, if they become reality, may cause substantial increases in operating costs or threaten the very survival of the enterprise? This article utilizes the relevant annual report disclosures from eBay (parent of PayPal), along with other eBay and PayPal documents, as a potentially powerful teaching device. Most of the descriptive language to follow is excerpted directly from eBay’s regulatory filings. My additions include weaving these materials into a logical presentation and providing supplemental sources for those who desire a deeper look (usually in …

Flawed Transparency: Shared Data Collection And Disclosure Challenges For Google Glass And Similar Technologies, Jonathan I. Ezor

Jonathan I. Ezor

Current privacy law and best practices assume that the party collecting the data is able to describe and disclose its practices to those from and about whom the data are collected. With emerging technologies such as Google Glass, the information being collected by the wearer may be automatically shared to one or more third parties whose use may be substantially different from that of the wearer. Often, the wearer may not even know what information is being uploaded, and how it may be used. This paper will analyze the current state of U.S. law and compliance regarding personal information collection …

A Submission To The Australian Law Reform Commission On Copyright And The Digital Economy: It Pricing, Matthew Rimmer

Matthew Rimmer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis submission draws upon a number of pieces of research on copyright and consumer rights – including:1. Matthew Rimmer, 'Clash of the Titans: Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft Under Fire at the IT Pricing Inquiry', The Conversation, 22 March 2013, https://theconversation.edu.au/clash-of-the-titans-apple-adobe-and-microsoft-under-fire-at-it-pricing-inquiry-128782. Matthew Rimmer, 'When the Price is Not Right: Technology Price Gouging in Australia', The Conversation, 23 November 2012, http://theconversation.edu.au/when-the-price-is-not-right-technology-price-gouging-in-australia-105823. Matthew Rimmer, 'IT Pricing: Copyright Law, Consumer Rights, and Competition Policy', A submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications Inquiry into IT Pricing, 19 September 2012, http://works.bepress.com/matthew_rimmer/121/In addition, this submission draws upon a number of …

Cooling-Off And Secondary Markets: Consumer Choice In The Digital Domain, Michael Mattioli

Michael Mattioli

This article studies the law and economics of cooling-off periods and secondary markets for online media. The discussion is fueled by a current debate: In July 2009, the online retail juggernaut, Amazon.com, remotely deleted literary classics from consumers’ portable “Kindle” reading devices. The public outcry and class-action lawsuit that followed have reinvigorated an ongoing debate about how much control digital media distributors should wield. Pundits and plaintiffs argue that too often, digital distributors like Amazon impair consumer freedom by misusing Digital Rights Management (DRM) software systems. However, these same systems could also provide significant benefits that have largely gone ignored. …

Privacy, Transparency & Google's Blurred Glass, Jonathan I. Ezor

Jonathan I. Ezor

No matter the context or jurisdiction, one concept underlies every view of the best practices in data privacy: transparency. The mandate to disclose what personal information is collected, how it is used, and with whom and for what purpose it is shared, is essential to enable informed consent to the collection, along with the other user rights that constitute privacy best practices. Google, which claims to support and offer transparency, is increasingly opaque about its many products and services and the information they collect for it, posing a significant privacy concern.

El Registro De Marca De Mala Fe: Entre La Coincidencia Y El Propósito Desleal, Gustavo M. Rodríguez García

Gustavo M. Rodríguez García

No abstract provided.

Oportunidades Para Las Empresas Dentro De La Omc, Rodolfo C. Rivas Rea Esq.

Rodolfo C. Rivas

The author provides a brief overview of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) by explaining the context of their interrelationship. Afterwards, the author delves into a brief analysis of Mexico’s role in the International Trade arena and concludes by describing the paths through which the private sector can benefit from the WTO.///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////El autor pone en contexto la interrelación entre la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) el Banco Mundial (BM) y el Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI). Posteriormente, el autor describe brevemente el rol de México dentro de las instituciones de Comercio Internacional …

La Industria Del Libro 3.0 Y J.K. Rowling, Rodolfo C. Rivas Rea Esq., Maria Alejandra Lopez Garcia Esq.

Rodolfo C. Rivas

The authors provide a brief overview of what could be called the 3.0 version of the book industry. Under the 3.0 book industry, the author’s role in exploiting their creations has to embrace new and creative business models, which may often come into conflict with publisher’s old business models. In the article, the authors take a look at the innovative business models implemented by J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Radiohead and Frank Ocean amongst others. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Los autores proporcionan una breve descripción de lo que podría llamarse la versión 3.0 de la industria del libro. En la industria del libro 3.0, …

Changing Places: A New Role For Creators In The Digital World, Rodolfo C. Rivas Rea Esq., Maria Alejandra Lopez Garcia Esq.

Rodolfo C. Rivas

The authors provide a brief overview of the author’s role in exploiting their creations and how new technologies have made authors and publishers explore new business models. In the article, the authors take a look at the innovative business models implemented by J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Radiohead and Frank Ocean amongst others./////////////////////////////////////////////////// Los autores proporcionan una breve descripción de la función del autor en la explotación de sus creaciones y cómo las nuevas tecnologías han obligado a los autores y editores explorar nuevos modelos de negocio. En el artículo, los autores echan un vistazo a los modelos de negocio innovadores …

Implementación De Políticas Corporativas Sobre Internet Y Redes Sociales En México, Rodolfo C. Rivas Rea Esq.

Rodolfo C. Rivas

The author analyzes and describes the necessary elements of a successful social media and Internet corporate policy; through citing common pitfalls and learning lessons from different jurisdictions across the world. The author then offers general guidelines on policies for Mexican enterprises under Mexican legislation.///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////El autor analiza y describe los elementos necesarios de una política corporativa sobre internet y redes sociales exitosa, citando los errores más comunes y aprendiendo lecciones de las legislaciones de distintos países.

Las Acciones De Clase En La Vision De La Corte Suprema De Justicia De La Nacion., Gabriel Martinez Medrano

Gabriel Martinez Medrano

Estas líneas son mis primeras reflexiones sobre el fallo de la CORTE SUPREMA (Argentina) in re Cavalieri, en el cual se denegó a una asociación de defensa de consumidores la legitimación activa para pretender extender la condena reclamada por Cavalieri al resto de consumidores de una empresa de medicina prepaga.

Lo Que Usted Debe Saber Al Invertir En Una Franquicia En México, Rodolfo C. Rivas Rea Esq., Marco A. Vargas Iñiguez Esq.

Rodolfo C. Rivas

The authors provide a brief account of the increasing importance of franchises in the current economic environment. Furthermore, in this walkthrough the authors discuss the existing legal regime for franchises in Mexico and provide an analysis of the negotiating positions involved in successfully developing a franchise.//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////Los autores proporcionan un breve estudio sobre la creciente importancia de las franquicias en el entorno económico actual. Además, los autores analizan el régimen jurídico vigente para las franquicias en México y ofrecen un análisis sobre las negociaciones necesarias para el desarrollo exitoso de una franquicia.

El Acceso A La Justicia Y La Competencia Territorial En Acciones Colectivas De Consumidores., Gabriel Martinez Medrano

Gabriel Martinez Medrano

Comenta doctrina de la Corte Suprema de Argentina que permite la demanda colectiva contra un banco en cualquier jurisdiccion donde este tenga una sucursal establecida.

Pitfalls And Promises Of Social Media And Mobile Lawyering, Jonathan I. Ezor

Jonathan I. Ezor

No abstract provided.

La Transparencia En La Protección De Datos Personales, Bruno L. Costantini García

Bruno L. Costantini García

La Transparencia en la Protección de Datos Personales, ponencia elaborada dentro de los trabajos del VII Congreso Nacional de Organismos Públicos Autónomos (OPAM)

Information Revolution: “Choice Of Control” To “Choice And Control”, Subhajit Basu, Christina Munns

Subhajit Basu

Please do not cite without permission of the authors.

In this article, we critically analyse whether the ‘privacy framework’ for health records is ‘fit-for-purpose’ for the NHS’s ‘information revolution’ and argue that the NHS’s ‘proxy-individual’ information-guardian role could inadvertently mask individuals’ intended roles, effectively circumventing autonomy-based laws by limiting the power of individuals to be autonomous. We suggest that moving ‘choice of control’ to individuals will render ‘privacy’ redundant whilst validating ‘confidentiality’ via consent from empowered individuals. This power shift would expose the overdue need for options to increase levels of individual ‘control/privacy,’ moving from the NHS’s paternal ‘proxy-individual’ conception …

The Alternative Forms Of Dispute Settlement And The Essential Difference Between These And Arbitration, Michael Diathesopoulos

Michael Diathesopoulos

The paper examines the characteristics of some common alternative forms of dispute settlement and their key differences from arbitration regarding their nature and scope. Its purpose is to explore each mechanism's suitability for specific types of disputes.