Glossary

A partnership is an association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners of a business for profit.

Patent law provides ownership rights and protection for unique processes, procedures, methods, inventions, and discoveries. It gives the patent owner the exclusive right to exploit (i.e. create, use, sell, distribute) the invention for a limited period of time (typically twenty years from the time of a patent application filing).

In a civil matter, the party who initiates a lawsuit against the defendant.

Damages that require no proof of actual injury to be awarded. Generally, presumed damages are awarded for torts, such as defamation per se, that the law deems will almost always lead to actual injury.

Latin phrase meaning "at first sight." A prima facie case presents enough evidence for the plaintiff to win the case barring any defenses or additional evidence presented by the defendant.

A private individual who does not fall under the category of public figure under defamation law.

From the Latin phrase "pro bon publico," which means for the public good. Pro bono refers to legal service provided voluntarily by law firms, law schools, or individual attorneys without monetary compensation.

Latin for "for oneself, on one's own behalf." When a litigant proceeds without legal counsel, they are said to be proceeding "pro se."

Under defamation law, an individual who is so famous, powerful, or influential that they are subject to public interest and scrutiny. Public figures include movie stars, elite professional athletes, and the heads of major corporations. The passage of time does not affect one's public figure status as long as the original source of their fame is of continued interest to the public.

The dissemination of information to others. Publication can include news articles, blog posts, podcasts, videos, or even user comments.

The legal claim known as "publication of private facts" is a species of invasion of privacy. A person commits this kind of invasion of privacy by publishing private facts about an individual, the publication of which would be offensive to a reasonable person. Such a claim can only be successful, however, if the facts in question are not legitimately newsworthy.

Damages awarded in addition to compensatory damages in certain circumstances. Punitive damages are considered punishment and are awarded when the defendant's behavior is found to be especially willful.