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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
vote dilution
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A quick definition of vote dilution:
Vote dilution is when the power of someone's vote is reduced. This can happen in a few different ways. For example, in a company, if more shares of stock are created, each share has less voting power. In politics, sometimes the way voting districts are drawn can make some people's votes count for less. In trademarks, if a famous brand is used on something unrelated, it can make the brand less special and valuable.
A more thorough explanation:
Vote dilution is the act of reducing the strength or value of a group's vote. This can happen in different ways:
- In corporations, when the total number of outstanding shares is increased, the voting power of each share is reduced. This is called dilution.
- In constitutional law, the effectiveness of a particular group's vote can be limited by legislative reapportionment or political gerrymandering. This violates the Equal Protection Clause.
- In trademarks, the strength, effectiveness, or distinctiveness of a famous trademark can be impaired by using the mark on an unrelated product. This is called trademark dilution.
For example, if a company issues more shares of stock, the voting power of each share decreases. This means that each shareholder has less influence over the company's decisions. In constitutional law, if a particular group's vote is weakened by redrawing voting districts in a way that favors one political party, it can be considered vote dilution. In trademarks, if a famous brand like Coca-Cola is used on a product that has nothing to do with soda, like a car, it can weaken the distinctiveness of the brand and reduce its value.