The MIT License Explained
Why the most permissive license in the world still has teeth — and why lawyers argue about two sentences.
Fair Use Is Not a Get-Out-of-Jail Card
The four-factor test, unpacked.
Provisional vs. Non-Provisional
The 12-month clock starts ticking the moment you file.
Genericization: When Brands Become Words
Aspirin, escalator, thermos — these were all trademarked once. Here’s how a brand name dies by becoming too successful.
CC-BY-SA 4.0: The Copyleft for Creatives
Share-alike doesn’t mean share-everything. A deep dive into what the SA clause actually requires — and what it doesn’t.
GPL v3 vs. AGPL
The network-use loophole that changed everything.
DMCA Takedown 101
How to file, how to counter, and why the system is broken.
Trade Dress: Beyond the Name
The look and feel of a product can be protected too.
The Public Domain: What It Actually Means
No, “freely available on the internet” does not mean public domain. A rigorous look at what enters the commons, when, and why it matters.
Standard Essential Patents
FRAND licensing and the smartphone wars.
NC Means Non-Commercial
But who defines “commercial”? It’s messier than you think.
License Compatibility Matrix
Can you combine MIT and GPL? Apache and LGPL? Here’s the definitive compatibility chart with edge cases annotated.
Orphan Works Problem
When no one knows who owns it.
Prior Art Defense
The most powerful weapon in patent litigation.
Madrid Protocol
International registration in 130+ countries with one application.
Software Patents: The Eternal Debate
Are algorithms patentable? Should they be? The Alice decision changed everything, but the dust hasn’t settled.
CC0: True Public Domain
Waiving all rights worldwide, including moral rights.