Patent law gives the inventor of a new machine, design, or process the exclusive right to use their invention, and to license its use by others. It provides a critically important protection for businesses that invest enormous sums of money in developing new technologies. During the term of…
In just over a decade, cryptocurrencies and blockchain have grown from a niche area of interest to a major area of economic activity. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum may serve as a medium of exchange, or they can be bought and sold in a manner somewhat like commodities trading. And the…
State and federal courts have overlapping jurisdiction over many legal claims. Plaintiffs are responsible for choosing where to file their lawsuits, but defendants can have their say in some situations. “Removal” is the process of transferring a lawsuit filed in state court to the United…
Trademark law protects brand names, business names, logos, and other words or symbols used to protect a product or service from unauthorized use by others. The Lanham Act, found in Title 15, Chapter 22 of the U.S. Code, regulates the issuance of trademarks by the federal government and the…
Sometimes, when an individual or business files a federal lawsuit, they are not seeking compensation for a harm that has already occurred. They, instead, might ask the court to stop the defendant from actions that create additional or ongoing harm. And monetary damages might not…
Defamation is a type of tort claim alleging that a false statement of fact about the plaintiff has caused the plaintiff to suffer financial harm. Spoken defamatory statements are known as slander, while written defamatory statements are called libel. Both individuals and businesses can file…