Apdn__1249zip -

The term most likely refers to Applied DNA Sciences , a company known for using DNA-based molecular tags to authenticate supply chains and prevent counterfeiting of "useful articles" such as textiles and electronics. What is a "Useful Article"?

The Supreme Court established a two-part test in the case Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc. :

The "useful article" doctrine is a key legal concept in copyright law that determines when artistic elements of a functional object—like a chair, a dress, or a lamp—can be protected. apdn__1249zip

The feature must be able to exist on its own—for example, as a painting or sculpture—if it were imagined apart from the functional object.

Performing a specific task like boiling water or lighting a room. The Doctrine & Copyrightability The term most likely refers to Applied DNA

The artistic feature must be able to be perceived as a two- or three-dimensional work of art separate from the useful article.

Under the Useful Article Doctrine , copyright does protect the functional design of the object itself (which is usually the domain of patent law). Instead, it only protects artistic features that can be separated from the object's function. The feature must be able to exist on

Companies like Applied DNA Sciences (APDN) provide a technical solution for manufacturers of useful articles. Because these items (like high-end apparel or automotive parts) often lack strong copyright protection for their overall design, they are frequent targets for counterfeiting. APDN uses molecular tags to prove an item is "original" at the fiber or material level, bypassing the legal "muddle" of trying to copyright the item's physical shape. Useful Articles - Copyright