Primary Sources and Intellectual Property Laws
A primary source is an original document or artifact that comes from the period of time being studied.
Someone from that time period actually wrote, created, or used it. Examples of primary sources include diaries, letters, oral histories, eyewitness accounts, and artifacts such as tools, clothes, and laws.
Laws that protect intellectual property are critical to the economy.
Find and read a law (a primary source) that protects intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, or copyright laws.
In the space below:
Identify the law you chose.
Explain what parts specifically protect such property.
Use specific quotes from the law to prove your points.
Consider how the language of the law is structured to be clear and concise.
Explain how the language used in the law protects intellectual property.
Cite your source.
What does a primary source from the past contain? A primary source is a first-person or contemporary account of an occasion or topic. They are the most direct evidence of that time or event because they were created by people or objects who were present at the time or event. What is the main origin of the artifacts? Visual sources such as historical objects, photographs, or works of art created during the time period you are studying are examples of primary sources.