Intellectual Property Law Commons^™

The Copyright Act Of 1976 And Prejudgment Interest, Jon M. Powers

Michigan Law Review

This Note argues that prejudgment interest should be presumptively available on damages-plus-profits awards under section 504(b) but should not be available for statutory damages under section 504(c). Part I argues that Supreme Court precedent suggests that the explicit reference to interest found in the Patent Act does not prevent courts from awarding prejudgment interest under the 1976 Copyright Act. Part II asserts that the 1976 Copyright Act's silence regarding prejudgment interest does not represent a congressional choice to exclude this remedy and that, in the face of this silence, the underlying purposes of section 504 should determine the propriety of …

Re-Tailoring Jury Trial Rights, Richard C. Reuben

Faculty Publications

The debate over improving the civil justice system has gone through many permutations over the years. Discovery, punitive damages and alternative dispute resolution are but a few of the paths that have been pursued. A case argued to the U.S. Supreme Court in January addresses the question from yet another-and potentially a more fundamental direction: the reach of the Seventh Amendment's guarantee of a jury trial in civil cases in federal court.

Impact Of The Communications Decency Act Of 1996 On Federal Prosecutions Of Computer Dissemination Of Obscenity, Indecency, And Child Pornography, William P. Keane

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

With the passage of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, Congress provided federal prosecutors with a potentially powerful new tool for combating "indecent" communications sent or made available to minors through computer networks. The author offers an early examination of the CDA on the use of computer and computer networks as instrumentalities of federal obscenity, indecency, and child pornography crimes, as well as the possible Constitutional challenges that are likely to emerge. He also outlines anticipated problems with enforcement, proof, and various defense strategies.

Regulating Competition In The Information Age: Computer Software As An Essential Facility Under The Sherman Act, David Mcgowan

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

This Article examines the application of the antitrust laws to computer software markets, beginning with a discussion of the different economic approaches underlying the antitrust and copyright laws. The Article contends generally that antitrust does not provide the analytical tools necessary to determine the optimal scope of copyright protection. The Article then examines more particularly the increasingly common argument that access to software code-including at least some form of copying-may be an "essential facility" under the antitrust laws. In this regard the Article discusses the analytical confusion surrounding the essential facilities concept and argues that application of the concept should …

Global Technological Integration, Intellectual Property Rights, And Competition Law: Some Introductory Comments, David J. Gerber

All Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Implications Of The New Regime For Global Competition Policy: Intellectual Property Rights, Economic Power, And Global Technological Integration, David J. Gerber

All Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

1995 Patent Law Decisions Of The United States Court Of Appeals For The Federal Circuit, Lawrence M. Sung

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Intellectual Property Protection In The Asian-Pacific Region: A Comparative Study, Paul C.B. Liu, Andy Y. Sun

Maryland Series in Contemporary Asian Studies

No abstract provided.

Hilton Davis And Jury Trials,, William Alsup, Carolyn Wiggin

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

Congress' creation of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1982 led to a boom in patent litigation that has continued into the 1990's. As this boom has continued, the role of juries in patent infringement cases has been criticized, with commentators suggesting jury bias in favor of patent holders. In particular, critics of patent infringement jury trials have argued that the doctrine of equivalents favors plaintiffs by allowing juries too much discretion in finding a patent infringement when there has been no literal infringement.

In 1995, the Federal Circuit's decision in Hilton Davis Chemical Co. v. Warner-Jenkinson …

The Economics Of Copyright, Robert G. Bone, Wendy J. Gordon

Scholarship Chronologically

Copyright law protects works of creative expression. At its relatively uncontroversial core lie songs, plays, novels, paintings, and other works of aesthetic value. But copyright is not confined solely to aesthetic subject matter; in many countries, it extends to works of fact, such as biographies, maps, and telephone directories, and to works with practical value. For example, one of the most controversial issues in copyright law today is whether and how much copyright should protect computer programs.

China's Copyright Law And The Trips Agreement, Reiko R. Feaver

Florida State University Journal of Transnational Law & Policy

No abstract provided.

Commercial Transactions On The Global Information Infrastructure: A European Perspective, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 269 (1996), Christopher Millard, Robert Carolina

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In an attempt to facilitate a single European marketplace, EU directives tried to amend its laws and regulations to accommodate the ever-advancing technology of the Internet. In tackling the issues, the authors discuss different layers of the Internet as laying the foundation for further analysis. Digital data networks are virtual networks; they are composed of a series of unrelated networks with each potentially owned and operated by different person. While the physical layers of such networks are important, the focus of this article is on the data layer: the layer that packages the data in a very efficient manner. This …

Patent Reexamination And The Pto: Compton's Patent Invalidated At The Commissioner's Request, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 379 (1996), Terri Suzette Hughes

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In 1985, two executives at Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. introduced the idea of a multimedia search system that interfaxed textual and graphical entry paths in a single database. At that time, Encyclopedia Britannica was not interested in publishing its own volumes of encyclopedias in an electronic format. Instead, they decided to make Compton’s Encyclopedia the basis of the proposed multimedia encyclopedia. On August 31, 1993, the PTO issued U.S. patent 5,241,671 for a multimedia search system to fourteen inventors who had previously assigned all their patent rights of the claimed invention to Encyclopedia Britannica. Questions arose about the validity of the …

Software Protection Against Third Parties In Belgium, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 661 (1996), Philipe Péters, Florence Verhoestraete

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

On June 30, 1994, Belgium became the first nation in Europe that incorporated Directive 91/250/EEC into a specific law, the "Software Act." Unlike many other countries that deal with copyright issues involving software, Belgium enacted the Software Act to satisfy the practical and specific need to protect software. In this introductory article on Belgium’s protection of software, the author discusses the main provisions of the Software Act while making reference to the Copyright Act since computer programs are also protectable through patent, trademark or unfair competition laws. In furthering its commitment under the Berne Convention, Belgium enacted the Software Act …

Intellectual Property Protection Of Software In Canada, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 673 (1996), A. David Morrow, P. Bradley Limpert

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

In Canada, the Criminal Code and the Copyright Act explicitly protect computer software programs while existing patent, trademark/trade secret and fiduciary duty laws also extent their protection to computer software. In this article, the author gives an overview of computer software protection under Canadian laws and analyzes courts’ applications of these laws to software by examining several caselaws. Computer software may be protected as trade secrets and thus may be part of a contractual agreement between parties. In the absence of an explicit agreement, Canadian laws imposes an implied non-disclosure duty on employees concerning trade secrets acquired in the scope …

The Protection Of Computer Software In The People's Republic Of China: Current Law & Case Developments In The "One-Copy" Country, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 695 (1996), Geoffrey T. Willard

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Since late 1970s, the Chinese economy has grown tremendously. Meanwhile, its intellectual property has also improved as a consequence of foreign pressures on the so-called “one-copy” country. China protects computer software under its copyright law, but the protection contains numerous loopholes which render its broad purpose meaningless. While the Act protects software in general, specific aspects of that protection are treated separately. The Act also creates exceptions and uses ambiguous terms to give the government leeway to reap fruits of software engineers without compensating it. In analyzing litigated software infringement cases, the author, though praising the impact of the decisions, …

Intellectual Property Protection Of Software In Ireland, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 717 (1996), Francis Hackett

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

There are over eight thousand people in Ireland employed in the software industry by several multinational corporations, including Microsoft, Novell, Lotus and Corel. Although there has not yet been much Irish case law addressing the protection of computer software, there are adequate statutory protections in place. The Directive on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs (“Regulations”) provides copyright protection for all original computer programs. Ideas and underlying principles are not protected by copyright under the Regulations but the English High Court has clarified this general rule by stating detailed ideas may be copyrighted. The Regulations provide some exclusive rights to …

Computer Software Protection In The Netherlands, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 725 (1996), Jaap H. Spoor

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article provides an overview of the laws currently in use for the protection of the intellectual property of software in the Netherlands. The analysis focuses primarily on all aspects of copyright law, which include sources of copyright law, protectable subject matter, ownership and transfer of copyright and licensing, economic rights and user's prerogatives, moral rights, copyright infringement in computer software and remedies for infringement. The article also briefly discusses other methods of protection for the intellectual property of computer software in the Netherlands, including patents, trade secrets, semiconductor chip protection and trademarks.

Software Protection In The Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 745 (1996), Diego A. Ramos

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This article begins by examining the unique political circumstances of Puerto Rico, as a territory of the United States. It then explains the different federal and national systems that govern patent and copyright protection in Puerto Rico. The article details the conflict between the two systems and outlines the way the federal laws of the United States take precedent over the local laws of Puerto Rico in the areas of copyright and trademark. It analyzes the laws of Puerto Rico which provide protection for "moral rights" in the European tradition, which the United States does not recognize. The article also …

Intellectual Property Protection For Software In Spain, 14 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 767 (1996), Hugo Ecija

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The author provides a brief overview of Spain’s intellectual property protection of software. The author discusses Act 22/87 which is the foundation of copyright law in Spain and regulates all kinds of works; literary, artistic, and scientific. In Spain, copyright laws protect computer programs as literary works. The broad definition of a "computer program" includes the object code as well as the source code, operating system programs, the microcode within the central processing unit, and the programming language and interface. As a member of the European Community (EC), Spain enacted "Directive 91/250" for legal protection of computer programs. The author …

The Protection Of Information Technology In A Culturally Diverse Marketplace, 15 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. Law 129 (1996), Doris E. Long

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

As we approach the year 2001, one of the critical issues facing the international community is the level and scope of protection to be afforded technology and technology based products. Technology and property laws share a unique relationship. Intellectual property laws serve as a potential source for technology protection. Technology if subject to protection is generally protectable under a country's patent or copyright for compact disc recordings. In addition to the forms of intellectual property, many nations also provide protection for the "rights neighboring" to traditional intellectual property rights. The absence of a uniform definition for traditional forms of intellectual …

Copying To Compete: The Tension Between Copyright Protection & Antitrust Policy In Recent Non-Literal Computer Program Copyright Infringement Cases, 15 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 171 (1996), Mark L. Gordon

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

A conflict exists between copyright law and antitrust policy. The conflict arises because pursuant to the Copyright Act, a copyright owner basically has a monopoly on the work's circulation throughout the market. Copyright protection benefits the owner and the public. Antitrust laws have the same goals. However, the antitrust laws balance these goals with competition in the market. Furthermore, computer programs complicate matters because the programs create a different problem than with other types of works. The Copyright Act states that "expression" is copyrightable and "ideas" are not. Computer programs, however, combine expression and ideas. Three types of copying are …

The Copyright Term Extension Act: Is Life Plus Seventy Too Much, Jenny L. Dixon

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

The Copyright Term Extension Act, if enacted, will increase the term of copyright protection to include the life of the author plus seventy years. Proponents of this legislation argue that such an increase is necessary for the United States to remain competitive in international intellectual property matters. This Note examines that proposition in light of the United States copyright tradition, the international copyright agreements currently in effect, and the negative impact the extension could have upon users of the public domain.

The Application Of Securities Laws In Cyberspace: Jurisdictional And Regulatory Problems Posed By Internet Securities Transactions, Kenneth W. Brakebill

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

This Note examines the impact of the Cyberspace revolution upon our current American system of securities regulation. The Author discusses several recent technological innovations, including the advent of electronic media to deliver corporate information to investors, the use of the Internet to consummate public stock offerings, and the creation of on-line securities trading systems to match buyers and sellers, and addresses the response of securities regulators to these novelties. In large part, the author will explore the legal uncertainty that has been thrust upon the American courts, federal and state regulators, and investors in light of the growing use of …

Patent Protection For Computer-Related Inventions: The Past, The Present, And The Future, Nancy J. Linck, Karen A. Buchanan

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

Intellectual property protection is important to the United States' economic welfare, in particular to the computer industry. This Article briefly overviews the underlying purpose of the United States' patent laws and the confusion present in the law regarding patent protection for computer software and computer-related inventions. It begins its discussion of this confusion with a review of the history of patent protection for these inventions, characterizing the history as "marked by 'stops and starts.'" The initial "starts" are numerous cases from the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals reversing the Patent and Trademark Office's (PTO's) refusal to issue a patent …

Patent Law's Nonobviousness Requirement: The Effect Of Inconsistent Standards Regarding Commercial Success On The Individual Inventor, Reed W. L. Marcy

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

This Note examines the Federal Circuit's approach to determining nonobviousness, the most difficult of the statutory patent requirements to satisfy, and the effect that inconsistent nonobviousness standards have on the individual inventor.

Since 1982, the Federal Circuit has made the commercial success of an invention the most important factor in determining whether an invention was not obvious and thus patentable. For the most part, the Federal Circuit's approach has helped the individual inventor. However, numerous obstacles arise when too much emphasis is placed on the marketing of the invention rather than on the creative act of inventing. In addition, the …

Ball Four: The Irs Walks The Kansas City Royals, Myreon Sony Hodur

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

The IRS will grant deductions for money spent on charitable purposes. One such purpose is lessening the burdens of governments. In 1993 the IRS granted a deduction worth almost $100 million to the estate of Ewing M. Kauffman for his donation of the Kansas City Royals baseball team to a local community foundation under a "Succession Plan." That arrangement would give local buyers preference in bidding to purchase the team from the foundation. The IRS found that the Succession Plan lessened the burden of government insofar as it relieved Kansas City area governments of their burden in keeping the franchise …

The Myth Of Market Power: Why Market Power Should Not Be Presumed When Applying Antitrust Principles To The Analysis Of Tying Agreements Involving Intellectual Property, Russell Lombardy

St. Thomas Law Review

This Comment will illustrate one of the many tensions occurring at the fault line of intersection between intellectual property law and antitrust law. This tension derives from the presumption of market power as it has been applied by the courts to the ownership of property protected by intellectual property law. The area where the effects of this presumption are the most apparent is in antitrust litigation involving "tied" products. A policy that recognizes the differences between intellectual property and other forms of property as they pertain to antitrust law and competitiveness is needed. This Comment asserts that this policy should …

Statutory And Ethical Barriers In The Patenting Of Medical And Surgical Procedures, 29 J. Marshall L. Rev. 891 (1996), William B. Lafferty

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Viet Nam Or Bust: Why Trademark Pirates Are Leaving China For Better Opportunities In Viet Nam, Graziella M. Sarno

Penn State International Law Review (1982 - 2011)

No abstract provided.