Intellectual Property Vocab

• Computer Software Copyright Act of 1980


  Provides copyright protection for software
• Copyright


  Exclusive ownership rights given to by the federal government to creators of books, music, and other creative works
• Cybersquatting


  Process of registering sites and domain names that are deceptively or confusingly similar to existing names, trade names, and trademarks
• Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)


  1988 amendment to federal copyright laws that includes use of computer technology to copy music and other copyrighted materials as infringement
• Disparagement


  Defamation of a business, its trademark or its products
• Fair Use


  One of the exceptions to copyright protection; permits limited use of copyright material
• Federal Trademark Dilution Act


  Federal law that permits trademark owners to file lawsuits to prevent others from impairing the mark's distinctiveness
• Gray Market


  Market in which trade name goods are sold through unauthorized dealers or without authorization from the owner of the trade name
• Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)


  Organization that registers domain names for purposes of protection of those names and intellectual property
• Knock-Off Goods


  Goods manufactured by someone other than the trademark or trade name holder without authorization and not according to the standards of the owner
• Lanham Act of 1946


  Federal law that protects trademarks and trade names
• Madrid Agreement


  In international law, 1891 multilateral treaty for protection of trademarks that permits registration and protection through a centralized registrar in Geneva
• Misappropriation


  Intentional tort of using others' trade secrets
• Opposition Proceedings


  In non-U.S countries, the patent process that allows third parties to appear and object to a patent application
• Palming Off


  Unfair trade practice of passing off mock goods as the goods of another
• Patent


  Exclusive ownership rights given to by the federal government to inventors of unique, nonobvious processes, products, or services
• Trade Dress


  The overall look, feel, color, and decorative design of a business
• Trade Libel


  Written defamation of a business
• Trade Name


  Name of a firm or product; entitled to federal protection for exclusive use
• Trademark


  A distinctive symbol on goods that identifies the manufacturer