The patent for Uncle Jimmie's Toy Blocks has recently expired. Its design method included an array of
Question:
The patent for Uncle Jimmie's Toy Blocks® has recently expired. Its design method included an array of tiny cylindrical studs on each block's top surface that interlock with precision-fitted perforations in the bottom of other blocks. Recognizing that the patent has finally expired, KT's Building Blocks™ (a competitor of Uncle Jimmie's) releases a new set of building blocks that are compatible with Uncle Jimmie's. KT's blocks have a completely different visual appeal but function exactly the same. Disappointed that its patent protection has expired, Uncle Jimmie's has expeditiously registered an industrial design on Uncle Jimmie's Toy Blocks® and is also considering a lawsuit claiming that KT is trying to pass off its blocks as his. Will either of these strategies allow Uncle Jimmie's to continue its monopoly in the interlocking toy block market? Explain your reasoning.
Step by Step Answer:
Managing the Law The Legal Aspects of Doing Business
ISBN: 978-0133847154
5th edition
Authors: Mitchell McInnes, Ian R. Kerr, J. Anthony VanDuzer