LAW 729LEC - Trademk & Unfair Competition

Brands are big business. The Apple trademark for computers is valued at over $200 billion. This number doesn’t include any of Apple’s factories, employees, or its inventory of computers, tablets, and smartphones. It is simply the value that economists put on the “Apple” name. And Apple is not alone. Many of the world’s most valuable companies owe that value to the reputation bound up in their particular name or corporate logo. Not surprisingly, with this much money at stake, law has stepped in to decide what is fair and what is not when it comes to the use of a business’s trademark. This course provides an in-depth treatment of this body of law, including discussion of eligibility for trademark and trade dress protection, trademark and trade dress infringement, trademark dilution, misappropriation and unfair competition, and the right of publicity. The course also examines the role of trademark within the larger context of intellectual property law and policies, both domestic and international. No prior experience with intellectual property law is required.

Credits: 3