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18 Seattle U. L. Rev. 259 (1994-1995)
Unconstitutional Incontestability - The Intersection of the Intellectual Property and Commerce Clauses of the Constitution: Beyond a Critique of Shakespeare Co. v. Silstar Corp.

handle is hein.journals/sealr18 and id is 269 raw text is: Unconstitutional Incontestability? The Intersection
of the Intellectual Property and Commerce Clauses of
the Constitution: Beyond A Critique of Shakespeare
Co. v. Silstar Corp.
Malla Pollack*
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction ................................. 260
II. The Triggering Case: Shakespeare v. Silstar ........  261
III. Background Statutory and Common Law ........... 262
A. Mere Descriptiveness ...................... 263
B.  Functionality  .. ..........................   264
C. Incontestably-Registered Trademarks ..........  266
IV. Congress May Not By Pass the Limited Times
Provision in the Intellectual Property Clause Through
the Commerce Clause . .......................      270
A. Other Clauses as Limits on the Commerce Clause  270
B. The Meaning of Limited Times in the
Intellectual Property Clause ................. 274
C. Intellectual Property Clause Limits on the
Commerce Clause ......................... 288
1. Equivalent Rights-A Thesis ............. 289
2.  Court Statements . .....................   297
3. Congress' Actions ....................      298
V. Constitutional Limits On The States? Suggesting
Constitutional/Statutory Preemption .............  300
VI. Conclusion .................................. 326
V II.  C oda  ...................................       327
* Assoc. Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, I1.; Adjunct Prof. liT-Chicago-Kent School of Law.
Many thanks to those who offered suggestions on earlier drafts of this paper including Louis
Altman, David P. Currie, Kenneth W. Dam, Richard A. Epstein, Dennis J. Hutchinson, Paul
Garcia, William M. Landes, Lawrence Lessig, Michael W. McConnell, and Tracey Louise
Meares.

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