Tennessee law

Intellectual Property Laws in Tennessee.

Most intellectual property law is federal: patents (35 U.S.C.), copyright (17 U.S.C.), and federal trademarks (15 U.S.C.). Tennessee provides state-law trademark registration through the Secretary of State, common-law trademark protection, and trade-secret protection under the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Tennessee's music-industry IP practice is distinctive given Nashville's role as a global music capital. Patent and federal trademark matters are litigated in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern (Knoxville, Greeneville, Chattanooga), Middle (Nashville, Cookeville, Columbia), and Western (Memphis, Jackson) Districts of Tennessee.