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Simple English definitions for legal terms

patent-exhaustion doctrine

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A quick definition of patent-exhaustion doctrine:

The patent-exhaustion doctrine is a rule that says when someone buys a patented item, the patent owner can no longer control how it is used. However, the patent owner can still put limitations on the item through a contract or license, as long as it is not unfair. This is similar to the first-sale doctrine in copyright law, which says that when someone buys a physical copy of a copyrighted work, they can give or sell that copy to someone else without infringing on the copyright owner's rights.

A more thorough explanation:

The patent-exhaustion doctrine is a rule that states that the sale of a patented product without any conditions ends the patent owner's right to control its use. However, the patent owner can still impose limitations through a contract or license, as long as it does not lead to anticompetitive patent misuse.

Suppose a company holds a patent for a new type of smartphone. If the company sells the smartphone to a customer, the patent owner's right to control the use of the smartphone is exhausted. The customer can use, repair, and resell the smartphone without any interference from the patent owner. However, the patent owner can still impose limitations on the use of the smartphone through a contract or license.

The first-sale doctrine is a similar principle that applies to copyrighted works. It states that the purchaser of a physical copy of a copyrighted work, such as a book or CD, can give or sell that copy to someone else without infringing the copyright owner's exclusive distribution rights. The copyright owner's distribution right is said to be exhausted with regard to that physical copy.

Suppose a person buys a physical copy of a book from a bookstore. The person can lend, sell, or give away the book without infringing the copyright owner's exclusive distribution rights. However, the person cannot make copies of the book without the copyright owner's permission.

These examples illustrate how the patent-exhaustion doctrine and the first-sale doctrine limit the control that patent and copyright owners have over their products after they are sold. These doctrines allow customers to use, repair, and resell the products without interference from the owners, as long as they do not violate any contractual or licensing agreements.

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lilypadfrog
12:59
每个人都说“你的考试成绩这么好,你会得到很好的决定”,但我没有!
texaslawhopefully
12:59
oof I think I'm going to miss the penn wave
texaslawhopefully
12:59
are they still calling
Trismegistus
12:59
hey tex me too lmfao
choosingpeace
12:59
@texaslawhopefully: me too yayyy
lilypadfrog
12:59
we did it reddit
13:00
@atwatodbit: haha ty wishing you the best as well
cumsock
13:00
careful! i graduated from reddit university
13:00
@texaslawhopefully: another day another missed wave??
lilypadfrog
13:01
what if I started using redditisms
lilypadfrog
13:01
thank you kind stranger for the gold
Trismegistus
13:01
do all my hopes and dreams and sanity rest on chicago now
texaslawhopefully
13:01
@sadpadresfan: prolly. My only hope is my last name is towards the end of the alphabet
lilypadfrog
13:01
i hope u guys would put me down like a dog that bit a baby
Trismegistus
13:02
@texaslawhopefully: i saw 3/4 down alphabet then 30- mins later 1/2 down alphabet
texaslawhopefully
13:02
so they're still calling?
Trismegistus
13:03
that i dont know
KeenHeartbreakingRattlesnake
13:03
the Penn e wave is about to cook me
atwatodbit
13:03
@sadpadresfan: did you get your Cornell scholly with your A at the same time? I think they gave me nothing...
lilypadfrog
13:04
tex also got cornell scholly ask him
texaslawhopefully
13:04
there's a form you fill out
texaslawhopefully
13:04
and they'll get back to you within a few days
13:04
@atwatodbit: they emailed me a day after submitting the form
atwatodbit
13:05
ah ok, i've seen that, just need to get parental info then. just making sure
13:05
Feeling fortunate and its my top choice as of now haha
lilypadfrog
13:06
what if you fill this out and you haven’t been admitted? just a next level move? they probably have to let you in then
PerpetualCheerfulBeaver
13:06
I applied to all my places in late september and am still waiting to hear back. ive missed all three types of waves (WL,R,A) am i screwed??
texaslawhopefully
13:07
Your guess is as good as mine. I'm in the same boat for most schools
Trismegistus
13:07
begging chicago for an A
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