Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) Signed into Law

Obama has signed the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) into law.  This law amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, creating a federal civil remedy for the misappropriation of trade secrets.  It also provides an additional means of protection for intellectual property.

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Intellectual Property Protections in Space

There is a lack of certainty when it comes to intellectual property rights in outer space.  Space Law is generally uniform in its application while intellectual property law varies from country to country. What happens when a patent is infringed in outer space? Currently, nothing as patent laws apply only within the territory of the granting country. And because the standards of copyright infringement vary from country to country there is an additional uncertainty of what artistic expression is protectable in space.  This is an area of the law that will require attention as our presence in space grows. 

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Are Tattoos Works of Art under Copyright Law?

LeBron James' tattoo artist recently filed suit against the makers of NBA2K16 claiming that their use of the tattoo in the video game constitutes copyright infringement. The Plaintiff asserts that LeBron James is a "medium of expression."  But whether a live body qualifies as a medium of expression is unsettled.  One would argue that the person exhibiting the tattoo should have some right to allow the use of that tattoo in conjunction with that person's likeness.  And if a tattoo is given copyright protection could the artist enjoin the destruction or alteration of that tattoo on a person's body? 

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