This monograph provides a concise overview of the law of copyright from its origins in the English common law through recent Supreme Court cases, designed to provide judges with a grounding in the essential concepts and statutory and case law in this specialized area. The monograph covers the duration and renewal of copyright, ownership of copyright, copyright formalities, as well as jurisdictional and procedural issues and the preemption of state law by federal copyright statutes.

A joint project by the National Center for State Courts, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and the Federal Judicial Center, this pocket guide provides information on the coordination and management of related cases that are pending simultaneously in both state and federal courts.

Among the reasons that courts issue protective orders in both civil and criminal cases is to keep discovery confidential on a showing of good cause. Experience has proved confidentiality protective orders to grease the wheels of discovery in many cases. The protective orders discussed in this pocket guide are different from sealing orders that protect the courts' own records and protective orders that protect information from discovery.

This guide focuses on case-management practices that may be helpful to the courts in the adjudication of patent infringement damages. It reflects the current state of the law and the courts' evolving case-management efforts.