Instructions for Answering Questions and Case Problems

At the end of each chapter in the textbook there is a section entitled Questions and Case Problems. It provides fact patterns and requires that you apply legal principles to those facts.

At the end of each chapter you will be required to write answers to one or more of the Questions and Case Problems. Your answers should be in paragraph form.

What is a quality response? It is one that that is thorough containing information from the textbook, New York Cases, or other appropriate source that demonstrates knowledge of the subject matter. Written responses should be thoughtful and instructive. You need to treat these essays as "take-home, open-book exams", which require well organized, thorough responses. Remember, even if you give a short correct response, others will give longer well documented answers with examples, and your short answer will not earn full credit.

Assignment Chapter 8

As a cattle rancher in Nebraska, Gerald Gohl used handheld searchlights to find and help calving animals (animals giving birth) in harsh blizzard conditions. Gohl thought that it would be more helpful to have a portable searchlight mounted on the of a vehicle and remotely controlled. He and Al Gebhardt developed and patented a practical application of this idea - the Golight and the wireless remote-controled Radio Ray, which could rotate 360 degrees - and formed Golight, Inc. to make and market the these products. In 1997 Walmart Stores, Inc., began selling a portable, wireless remote-controlled searchlight that was identical to the Radio Ray except for a stop piece that prevented the light from rotating more than 351 degrees. Golight sent Walmart a letter claiming that its device infringed Golight's patent. Walmart sold its remaining inventory of the devices and stopped carrying the product. Golight filed a suit in a federal district court against Walmart, alleging patent infringement. How should the court rule?

Assignment Chapter 9 9-1

91. Internet Service Providers. CyberConnect, Inc., is an Internet service provider (ISP). Pepper is a CyberConnect subscriber. Market Reach, Inc., is an online advertising company. Using sophisticated software, Market Reach directs its ads to those users most likely to be interested in a particular product. When Pepper receives one of the ads, she objects to the content. Further, she claims that CyberConnect should pay damages for publishing the ad. Is the ISP regarded as a publisher and therefore liable for the content of Market Reachs ad? Why or why not? (See Online Defamation.)