Patent, Copyright Trademark, 6th edition

By Attorneys Stephen Elias and Richard Stim

SIXTH EDITION	APRIL 2003
Editor	Richard Stim
Illustrations	Sasha Stim-Vogel
Cover Design	Toni Ihara
Production	Susan Putney
Proofreading	Sheryl Rose
Printing	Arvato Services, Inc.

Elias, Stephen.

Patent, copyright & trademark / by Stephen Elias and Richard Stim. — 6th ed.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 0-87337-949-7

1. Intellectual property—United States—Popular works. I. Title: Patent, copyright, and trademark. II. Stim, Richard III. Title.

KF2980.E44 2003

346.7304’8—dc21 2003045890

Copyright 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 by Nolo and Richard Stim.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed in the U.S.A.

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Acknowledgment

I dedicate this book to my uncle Paul and aunt Laverne, who taught me that curiosity is the best policy.

—S.E.

Read This First

The information in this book is as up to date and accurate as we can make it. But it’s important to realize that the law changes frequently, as do fees, forms and other important legal details. If you handle your own legal matters, it’s up to you to be sure that all information you use—including the information in this book—is accurate. Here are some suggestions to help you do this:

First, check the edition number on the book’s spine to make sure you’ve got the most recent edition of this book. To learn whether a later edition is available, go to Nolo’s online Law Store at www.nolo.com or call Nolo’s Customer Service Department at 800-728-3555.

Next, because the law can change overnight, users of even a current edition need to be sure it’s fully up to date. At www.nolo.com, we post notices of major legal and practical changes that affect a book’s current edition only. To check for updates, go to the Law Store portion of Nolo’s website and find the page devoted to the book (use the “A to Z Product List” and click on the book’s title). If you see an “Updates” link on the left side of the page, click on it. If you don’t see a link, there are no posted changes—but check back regularly.

Finally, while Nolo believes that accurate and current legal information in its books can help you solve many of your legal problems on a cost-effective basis, this book is not intended to be a substitute for personalized advice from a knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professional, consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state.

About the Authors

Stephen Elias received a law degree from Hastings College of Law in 1969. He practiced in California, New York and Vermont until 1980 when he decided to make a full-time career of helping non-lawyers understand and use the law. Steve has written and edited over 30 books for Nolo including six books on intellectual property law.

Richard Stim is an attorney specializing in intellectual property and an editor at Nolo. He is the author of seven other intellectual property books including Getting Permission: How to License and Clear Copyrighted Materials Online and Off (Nolo); Music Law: How to Run Your Band’s Business (Nolo); and License Your Invention: Sell Your Idea and Protect Your Rights With a Solid Contract (Nolo). He enjoys watching movies but not if they’re longer than 2 hours.