Question 1

Any Western country doing business in Malaysia or the Middle East should have an understanding of:

Accepted Answer

Malaysia and many countries in the Middle East have a legal system strongly influenced by Islamic law, also known as Sharia law. Companies doing business in these regions should have an understanding of this legal framework. The other options listed are not particularly relevant or applicable to these regions.

Question 2

In 2005,representatives from several wine regions in the United States and the EU signed a Joint Declaration to Protect Wine Place & Origin.In addition,a Wine Accord signed by the United States and EU bans the:

Accepted Answer

The Joint Declaration and Wine Accord aim to protect the geographical indications and traditional terms used in the wine industry. Choice C states that marketers of wine products cannot use place names that they do not originate from. This is in line with the objective of the declaration and accord.

Answer: E
 The use of the word "champagne" is restricted to wines made in the Champagne region of France. This is a protected geographic indication, and wines made in other regions or countries cannot use this term on their labels. Therefore, choice E accurately reflects the restriction imposed by the Wine Accord.

Question 3

In a recent case,Revlon sued United Overseas Limited (UOL)in the U.S.District Court for the Southern District of New York for breach of contract.UOL countered by asking the court to dismiss the claim since they are not operating in that area.Revlon cited the presence of a UOL sign above the entrance to the offices of a New York company in which UOL had a 50-percent ownership.The court dismissed UOL's claim.This is an issue related with:

Accepted Answer

The issue at hand is related to jurisdiction, as Revlon is claiming that UOL breached a contract and is therefore invoking the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. UOL is attempting to have the claim dismissed on the grounds that they are not operating in that area, which is a question of jurisdiction.

Question 4

In West Africa,Burkina Faso,the Ivory Coast and Senegal are former French colonies,while Nigeria,Sierra Leone,and Ghana are former British colonies.Based on this information,which of the following would be correct?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal are former French colonies suggests that they use a civil-law system, which is based on the French civil code. On the other hand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Ghana are former British colonies, which indicates that they use common law, a legal system based on English law.

Question 5

Engineers at a company in a developing country study an American computer chip design,copy it,and produce identical chips that are then sold to local computer makers.What form of intellectual property has been wrongly appropriated?

Accepted Answer

The correct form of intellectual property that has been wrongly appropriated in this scenario is a patent. Patents protect inventions, including designs for computer chips, preventing others from making, using, or selling the invention without permission.

Question 6

The German civil-law tradition prevails in all of the following countries except:

Accepted Answer

Scandinavia follows the Nordic legal tradition, which is a mixture of civil and common law.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a common-law country?

Accepted Answer

India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Singapore are all former British colonies that adopted the British system of common law, while Korea has a civil law system influenced by its history and relationships with China and Japan.

Question 8

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)is fully adopted by all U.S.states except:

Accepted Answer

Louisiana has adopted the UCC with some modifications, but not in its entirety.

Question 9

Which of the following would constitute a copyright violation?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed involve the unauthorized copying and distribution of copyrighted material, which is a violation of copyright law.

Question 10

Islamic law is a comprehensive code based in part on:

Accepted Answer

Islamic law, also known as Shariah law, is primarily based on the teachings of the Koran and the Hadith (sayings and actions of the prophet Muhammad). It is not influenced by Anglo-Saxon common law, Roman law, the Napoleonic Code, the Uniform Commercial Code, or the French Civil Code.

Question 11

A formal legal document that gives an inventor the exclusive right to make,use,and sell an invention for a specified period of time is known as:

Accepted Answer

A patent is a legal document that grants the inventor of a new and useful product or process the exclusive right to make, use, and sell it for a specified period of time, usually 20 years from the date of filing. Patents protect the invention itself rather than the expression of an idea or a creative work, which is the scope of copyright and trademark protection.

Question 12

Counterfeiting is:

Accepted Answer

Counterfeiting refers to the unauthorized copying or production of a product, usually with the intention to deceive buyers into thinking they are purchasing the original product. This can include copies of physical objects, such as designer handbags or luxury watches, as well as fake goods produced by unauthorized manufacturers. Counterfeiting can lead to lost profits for the original brand owner and may also pose safety risks for consumers, as counterfeit products are often made with lower quality materials or may not meet safety standards.

Question 13

Only Sony can use the "Walkman" name on its line of personal stereos.This is because:

Accepted Answer

"Walkman" is a registered Sony trademark, meaning only Sony has the legal right to use that name for its line of personal stereos. Patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and international business licenses do not necessarily confer the exclusive right to use a specific name or brand.

Question 14

In many parts of the world,sales of unauthorized videos of Hollywood movies cost the movie studios billions of dollars.When illegal copies of movies are made,what form of intellectual property has been wrongly appropriated?

Accepted Answer

Unauthorized copying of Hollywood movies is a violation of copyright, which is the legal protection of original works of authorship, including movies. Patents cover inventions, trademarks protect brands, and trade secrets protect confidential business information. Downloading is a method of obtaining unauthorized copies, not a form of intellectual property itself.

Question 15

The company receiving the most U.S.patents in 2009 was:

Accepted Answer

IBM received the most U.S. patents in 2009, with a total of 4,914 patents granted. This was the 17th consecutive year that IBM received the most patents.

Question 16

In accordance with GATT,new U.S.patents are granted for a period of ________ years from the filing date.

Accepted Answer

According to GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), new U.S. patents are granted for a period of 20 years from the filing date. Therefore, the best choice is option C.

Question 17

Harley-Davidson has applied for federal protection of an unusual form of intellectual property; the "soul-pleasing rumble" produced by its motorcycles.What type of protection is Harley-Davidson seeking?

Accepted Answer

Harley-Davidson sought trademark protection for the distinctive sound of its motorcycles, aiming to legally protect the unique "rumble" as a recognizable aspect of its brand identity.

Question 18

What happens if a nation has allowed a case against it to be brought before the ICJ (International Court of Justice)and then refuses to accept a judgment against it?

Accepted Answer

If a nation refuses to accept a judgment against it from the ICJ, the plaintiff nation can seek recourse through the UN Security Council. The Security Council can authorize measures such as economic sanctions or even the use of force to ensure compliance with the ICJ's decision.

Question 19

The unauthorized publication or reproduction of copyrighted work is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Piracy refers to the unauthorized publication or reproduction of copyrighted work.

Question 20

Research in Motion (RIM),a Canadian company which markets BlackBerry Messenger,is very popular with politicians and business people because it offers advance encryption that provides data security.This can be a disadvantage for some countries because:

Accepted Answer

Governments may view the high level of encryption offered by BlackBerry Messenger as a threat to national security, and therefore impose strict controls on the use of the service.

Quiz 5: The Political, Legal, and Regulatory Environments