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Simple English definitions for legal terms
compulsory disclosure
Read a random definition: matrimonial action
A quick definition of compulsory disclosure:
Compulsory disclosure means being required to share information that was previously unknown. This can happen in two ways: (1) when someone is legally obligated to reveal information to their opponent in a lawsuit, or (2) when someone is forced to share private information without their consent. In the first case, the goal is to make the legal process more efficient by requiring parties to automatically share certain information. In the second case, it is considered a violation of privacy and can be legally actionable if the disclosure would be highly objectionable to a reasonable person. In the context of patents, compulsory disclosure refers to the requirement that inventors provide a detailed explanation of their invention so that others can understand and potentially replicate it.A more thorough explanation:
Compulsory disclosure refers to the mandatory divulging of information to a litigation opponent according to procedural rules. This can include the automatic disclosure of information that would typically be requested during the discovery process in a legal case.
- Full disclosure: A complete revelation of all material facts.
- Public disclosure of private facts: The public revelation of some aspect of a person's private life without a legitimate public purpose.
- Voluntary disclosure of offense: A person's uncoerced admission to an undiscovered crime.
- Initial disclosure: In federal practice, the requirement that parties make available to each other certain information without first receiving a discovery request, such as the names of potential witnesses and relevant documents.
- Patent disclosure: A document explaining how an invention works in sufficient detail for one skilled in the art to be able to understand and duplicate the invention.
These examples illustrate the different contexts in which compulsory disclosure can occur. In legal cases, parties may be required to disclose certain information to their opponents in order to ensure a fair trial. In the case of patents, inventors must disclose enough information about their invention for others to be able to replicate it.