Exam 9: Ideas and Information

Gordon invented a solution that dissolved the residue of tape that remained on walls after the removal of notices,pictures,etc.He kept his formula secret,but wasn't yet interested in marketing it,just in improving it.Gordon's only employee,Thad,who had signed a contract to work until July 1,2011,was offered a job by Mr.Barr,who would pay him twice his salary if Thad would leave Gordon right away (in April)and bring Gordon's secret formula with him.Because Thad was upset by Gordon's lack of interest in marketing his product,he did copy the formula,quit,and began working for Barr,who marketed the solution.On these facts,which of the following is false?

In order to be effective,employers who monitor their employees' use of computers are well advised to do so secretly,without informing their employees of this practice.

What kinds of things are protected as industrial designs?

Which of the following is true with regard to infringement and the remedies available to the copyright owner?

What is the period of protection associated with patent law?

Discuss the various remedies that are available and their effectiveness when intellectual property such as copyright and patent are interfered with.

Chad was the best private detective in the west.His system for tracking persons who had caused themselves to disappear was markedly superior to that of others.Sally,his only assistant,was considered so valuable that he had her sign five-year contracts with non-disclosure clauses.Sally took notes at a private meeting between Chad and a representative of the RCMP who was negotiating a contract with Chad to track down two criminals.Sally and Chad took care that the discussions were understood to be confidential-regarding the information shared both by the RCMP and by Chad about his methods.Sally was approached by a competitor of Chad,Mr.Adolph,who offered her three times her current salary if she would break her contract with Chad,sign with him,and bring him information about Chad's tracking system.After some months,she did just that.Furthermore,she shared with Adolph the information given to Chad by the RCMP,which caused the RCMP embarrassment,time,and money.Which of the following is true?

Naxon opened a retail computer shop that he called Computer Haven Ltd.He used colours and signs similar to those used by Computerheaven Ltd.,a very successful computer store three kilometres away.After Naxon was in business for about five months,the directors of Computerheaven Ltd.noticed that their sales had dropped.On these facts,which of the following is true?

Which of the following is true with regard to obtaining a patent?

Joe wanted to start up a restaurant business,did some research,and found out that McDonald's had not properly registered its trademark,the golden arches,in his particular area.Joe used a similar pair of arches over his restaurant and started conducting business.Explain any danger he might face.

In Canada,patent protection does not come automatically but must be applied for.This process of applying for a patent is:

Joe wrote a short story that he was extremely proud of,brought it to you,and asked you how to go about having it copyrighted.What would be your answer?

What is an Anton Piller order?

Which of the following lawsuits is an action not based on copyright law?

Which of the following is false if an inventor has his or her application for a patent granted?

In an article about the patents held by the Research Services Office at the University of British Columbia,it was written that none of the patents were there because someone set out to invent something new."If we knew what it was that creates innovation,we would all be millionaires ...it's chance,brilliance,an offhand remark ...." We know that to obtain a patent we need to have created an "invention." Which of the following would most likely be a patentable invention?

The federal government's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)applies in all provinces except where legislation that provides for equivalent protection has been passed by the province.

A patent is a form of ________,giving an inventor the exclusive right to produce and profit from his or her invention for a period of twenty years.

Which of the following is not a remedy for a copyright infringement?

Explain how a patent is obtained.