FAQ

ACS:Law specializes in intellectual property law and civil litigation, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, contract dispute, and business litigation matters.

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.

You can protect your invention by filing a patent application with the appropriate patent office (e.g., USPTO in the United States).

Common types of trademarks include brand names, logos, slogans, and other distinctive signs that identify and distinguish goods or services of one party from those of others.

Copyright infringement occurs when someone uses a copyrighted work without permission from the copyright holder.

To prove a breach of contract, you generally need to establish: (1) a valid contract existed, (2) the plaintiff performed their obligations, (3) the defendant breached the contract, and (4) the breach caused damages to the plaintiff.

Mediation is a non-binding process where a neutral third party facilitates communication and negotiation between parties to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. Arbitration, on the other hand, involves a neutral third party (the arbitrator) who hears evidence and makes a binding decision to resolve the dispute.

A statute of limitations is a law that sets a time limit for filing a lawsuit. The time limit varies depending on the type of legal claim.

Discovery is the pre-trial phase of litigation where parties exchange information and evidence relevant to the case. This can include document requests, interrogatories (written questions), depositions (oral testimony under oath), and requests for admissions. This is different to discovery in criminal law where discovery is more limited. Prosecutors are obligated to share certain evidence with the defense, especially if it helps the accused or raises doubts about their guilt (this is known as exculpatory evidence). However, the same broad exchange seen in civil cases doesn’t apply. Defendants have rights against self-incrimination, so they’re not required to provide information that could be used against them.