Introduction to Intellectual Property is a relatively conventional casebook with many notes and several problems. The book is designed to provide the comprehensive foundation needed, regardless of students' intention to specialize in IP or, more likely, some subset of it. IP issues have become so pervasive that few lawyers can afford to be ignorant of the cumulative and alternative strategic value of IP options. Moreover, strategic choices cannot be made in isolation and the foundation for making them cannot be acquired in focused, advanced IP courses. A full-text CD comes with the text.

Patents, copyrights and trade secrets are used to recover investments in new products and services, whereas trademarks are used to protect valuable reputations. This book explores the scope and limitations of those traditional forms of IP as well as how they are acquired, maintained and enforced. It also covers newer topics such as domain names and rights of publicity. Throughout, limitations to the scope of various forms of IP are stressed, along with misuse, invalidity and other defenses available to alleged infringers.

The author is eager to share syllabi and old exams. His current syllabus is posted online at: http://www.piercelaw.edu/tfield/fip/fipsyll.htm. He also welcomes professors’ inquiries about the use of his book, and he may be contacted by e-mail at tfield@piercelaw.edu.