Michigan

Last updated on June 25th, 2008

Last updated on May 9th, 2008

Last updated on June 5th, 2008

Trade Secrets Law in Michigan

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Note: This page covers information specific to Michigan. See the Trade Secrets overview for more general information.

The Michigan Uniform Trade Secrets Act ("MUTSA") is located in chapter 445 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. MUTSA is largely identical to the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. For generally applicable information on trade secrets claims and defenses, see Basics of a Trade Secret Claim and Publishing Trade Secrets.

Like the Uniform Trade Secret Act, MUTSA prohibits "misappropriation" of trade secrets and provides certain remedies.

Definitions

Mich. Comp. Laws § 445.1902 defines the key terms of MUTSA:   read more »

Last updated on May 6th, 2008

Michigan State Court Records

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Note: This page covers information specific to Michigan. For general information concerning access to and use of court records see the Access to Courts and Court Records section of this guide. 

You have a right to inspect and copy many records and documents filed in Michigan courts. However, your right of access is not absolute. Michigan statutes and court rules exempt certain categories of information from disclosure, and a court may limit access to court records at the request of a party to a lawsuit or criminal case. If you are interested in obtaining court records, you should go to the courthouse where the case is taking place and request the records in writing from the clerk of the court (there will usually be a request form). State websites provide locations and phone numbers for the Michigan Trial Courts (Circuit, Probate, and District Courts), Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. Alternatively, you may be able to access court records online. For more information, please consult the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press's state-by-state guide to electronic access to court records.   read more »

Last updated on April 17th, 2008

Access to Michigan Court Proceedings

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Note: This page covers information specific to Michigan. For general information concerning access to and use of court proceedings see the Access to Courts and Court Records section of this guide.

You have a right to attend most court proceedings in Michigan state courts. However, your right of access is not absolute, and a court can restrict your access under certain circumstances. If you are interested in attending a court proceeding, visit the Michigan judiciary's website to find the locations, phone numbers, and websites for the state's courts. This pages focuses on your ability to access certain types of proceedings.

Criminal Proceedings

Trial Proceedings

You have a First Amendment right and a statutory right to attend all stages of criminal trials in Michigan state courts. See Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia; 448 U.S. 555, 580 (1980), Mich. Comp. Laws 600.1420. This includes the preliminary hearing and the jury selection process.   read more »

Last updated on April 23rd, 2008

Open Meetings Laws in Michigan

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Note: This page covers information specific to Michigan. For general information concerning access to government meetings see the Access to Government Meetings section of this guide.

The Michigan Open Meetings Act provides the public with a right of access to the meetings of a large number of government bodies at the state and local level in Michigan. The law entitles you to notice of these meetings and gives you the ability to inspect and copy meeting minutes. For more detailed information about the Michigan Open Meetings Act, consult the Michigan Legislature's helpful guide, The Michigan Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press's Open Government Guide: Michigan.

What Meetings are Covered?

What Government Bodies Are Covered?

The Michigan Open Meetings Act covers the meetings of public bodies. The law defines a "public body" as:   read more »

Last updated on April 17th, 2008

Access to Public Records in Michigan

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Note: This page covers information specific to Michigan. For general information concerning access to government records see the Access to Government Records section of this guide.

You have a statutory right to inspect Michigan's public records using the state's Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), unless you are "incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities." See Section 15.231 of Michigan Compiled Laws ("Mich. Comp. Laws").

What Records Are Covered in Michigan

What Government Bodies Are Covered   read more »

Last updated on April 23rd, 2008

Last updated on June 4th, 2008

Lifestyle Lift v. Real Self -- Using Trademark Law to Silence Critical Reviews?

Posted March 4th, 2008 by Sam Bayard

Eric Goldman published an interesting post yesterday about a new case, Lifestyle Lift Holding, Inc. v. Real Self, Inc., which is a trademark dispute involving RealSelf.com, an interactive website with forums that let consumers discuss their experiences with cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures and vote on whether a procedure was "worth it" or "not worth it." Lifestyle Lift owns the trademark "Lifestyle Lift," which it licenses to doctors who perform facelift procedures under that name. A number of RealSelf users have written negative reviews of the Lifestyle Lift procedure, with 55% of users currently saying that the procedure was "not worth it."

The complaint, filed in federal district court in Michigan, alleges federal trademark infringement, unfair competition, and a violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act based on the website's use of Lifestyle Lift's trademark. Goldman writes about the case:   read more »

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