Law terms starting with S

274 terms

Settlor The person who sets up a trust. Also referred to as "grantor."
SF a type of form designation such as Form SF51, meaning a Standard Form used throughout the Federal Government
SFFAC Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts
SFFAS Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards
SGML/HyTime A multimedia extension to SGML, sponsored by DOD.
SHA-1 Secure Hash Algorithm, for computing a condensed representation of a message or a data file specified by FIPS PUB 180-1.
Shepardizing Method for finding subsequent development of a legal theory by tracing status of a case as legal authority.
Sheriff The executive officer of local court in some areas. In other jurisdictions the sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of a county.
Sherman Act The basic antitrust statute prohibiting any unreasonable interference, conspiracy, restraint of trade, or monopolies with respect to interstate commerce.
Short Service The three methods of service described above each must be completed at least seven days before the first court hearing, but no earlier than fourteen days…
Sibling (SIB-ling) A person's brother or sister who has the same parents.
Sidebar A conference between the judge and lawyers or pro se litigant, usually held in the courtroom, but neither the jury nor other people in the courtroom may…
Signature See Certificate.
SIMM (Single, In-Line Memory Module) A mechanical package (with legs) used to attach memory chips to printed circuit boards.
simple resolution Designated "S. Res.," simple resolutions are used to express nonbinding positions of the Senate or to deal with the Senate's internal affairs, such as the…
Simplex One-sided page(s)
SINE Without.
Sine die Without a day appointed.
Sine qua non An indispensable condition; a requisite.
SIR a published statutory invention registration contains the specification and drawings of a regularly filed nonprovisional application for a patent without…
SIRA Search and Information Resources Administration, an organizational unit of the Patent business area. -- see Patent Resources and Planning for more
SITP Strategic Information Technology Plan
Skewed Tilted images. See De-skewing.
skill in the art An ordinary level of proficiency in a particular technology in which an invention is made.
Slack The difference in empty bytes of the space that is allocated in clusters minus the actual size of the files.
Slack Space A form of residual data, slack space is the amount of on-disk file space from the end of the logical record information to the end of the physical disk…
Slack/Slack Space The unused space on a cluster that exists when the logical file space is less than the physical file space. Also known as file slack.
Slander Spoken defamation which tends to injure a person's reputation. See libel.
slip law A few days after a law has been enacted, it is officially published first as a "slip law.
SM service mark
Small Business Administration (SBA) A federal agency authorized to make loans to small businesses, including loans for land purchase and construction.
small business concern for purposes of small entity determination per MPEP 509.02 - any business concern meeting the size standards set forth in 13 CFR Part 121 to be eligible…
Small Claims Court A state court that handles civil claims for small amounts of money. People often represent themselves rather than hire an attorney.
Small Claims Court/Conciliation Court Conciliation Court is often called Small Claims Court. Conciliation Court was created to allow citizens to bring their legal claims before the court…
Small Entity for purposes of small entity determination per MPEP 509.02 - means an independent inventor, a small business concern, or a nonprofit organization eligible…
SMART Standards, Mentor, Attempt, Review, Transition -- an informal development program used for USPTO's OCIO employees that identifies standards to work…
Smart Card A credit card size device which contains a microprocessor, memory and a battery.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) The protocol widely implemented on the Internet for exchanging email messages.
Social Security Social Security is a federal government program designed to provide income for qualifying retired people, their dependents, and disabled people who meet…
Social Security Administration (SSA) The federal agency which administers the national social security program.
Social Security Tax Provides benefits for retired workers and their dependents as well as for the disabled and their dependents.
Software Coded instructions (programs) that make a computer do useful work.
Software Application A program, that instructs a computer to perform a specific set of instructions or execute a process.
Software-As-A-Service or SaaS A system of internet-based software delivery in which the developer of the software provides operational support and maintenance for the software provided…
Sole custody a form of child custody that grants one parent the right to legal and physical custody.
Solvents liquids, usually petroleum based, that can dissolve solids and keep them in solution. May contribute to pollution through evaporation.
SOU Statement of Use
Sovereign Immunity The doctrine that the government, state or federal, is immune to lawsuit unless it gives consent to the suit through statute.
Spatter dispersion of small blood droplets due to the forceful projection of blood.
Special assessment A lien assessed against real property by a public authority to pay costs of public improvements (for example, sewers, street lights) that directly benefit…
Special Status A status granted U.S. patent applications that have certain characteristics upon successful petition to the USPTO.
Specific performance A remedy requiring a person who has breached a contract to perform specifically what he or she has agreed to do.
specification a written description of the invention and the manner and process of making and using the same -- see MPEP 608.01 for more
specimen a real-world example of how the mark is actually used on goods or in the offer of services.
Speckle Imperfections in an image as a result of scanning paper documents that do not appear on the original. See De-speckling.
Speedy Trial Act Federal law establishing time limits for carrying out major events, i.e. indictment, arraignment, etc., in a criminal prosecution.
Spendthrift trust A trust set up for the benefit of someone whom the grantor believes would be incapable of managing his or her own financial affairs.
Splatter Data that should be kept on one disc of a jukebox goes instead to multiple platters.
Spoliation Generally, the intentional or negligent destruction or alteration of evidence when there is current litigation or an investigation or there is reasonable…
Spoofing Some market analysts maintain that the increased volatility in stock markets may be the result of an illegal practice known as spoofing, or phantom bids.
SPP (Standard Parallel Port) See Centronics.
SQL (Structured Query Language) a standard fourth generation programming language (4GL - a programming language that is closer to natural language and easier to work with than a…
SRM Service Reference Model - also known as a Service Component Reference Model -- a business and performance-driven, functional framework that classifies…
SSP Shortened Statutory Period -- see MPEP §710.02(b) for more
Stand Alone Computer A single computer not connected to a network
Standard a statement that describes an acceptable level of performance, excellence, or attainment in that particular activity.
standard character format An applicant may submit a standard character format representation of a mark if (1) All letters and words in the mark are depicted in Latin characters…
Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) An informal industry standard for open systems document management which specifies the data encoding of a documents format and content.
Standard of proof Indicates the degree to which an aspect of a case must be proven. In a civil case, the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff, who must establish his or…
Standard of Review The legal standard an appellate court uses to review a case on appeal, which determines how much deference the appellate court will show to the lower…
Standing The legal right to bring a lawsuit. Only a person with something at stake has standing to bring a lawsuit.
standing committee Permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate and specializing in the consideration of particular subject areas.
standing trustee A trustee with a permanent appointment to serve in Chapter 12 or 13 cases.
Stare decisis To abide by decided cases.
State State means one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Statement A summary of all transactions that occurred over the preceding month and could be associated with a deposit account or a credit card account.
statement of financial affairs A series of questions the debtor must answer in writing concerning sources of income, transfers of property, lawsuits by creditors, etc.
statement of intention A declaration made by a chapter 7 debtor concerning plans for dealing with consumer debts that are secured by property of the estate.
statement of net cost compares fees earned to costs incurred during a specific period of time --locate Financial Statements in the Annual Performance and Accountability Reports
Statement of reasons The court's reasons for imposing a particular sentence. The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 requires the court to state its reasons for imposing a…
statement of use SOU - a sworn statement signed by the applicant or a person authorized to sign on behalf of the applicant attesting to use of the mark in commerce.
statue of limitations A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
Status The legal standing of a patent appplication or patent. MPEP 102.
Status Bar A bar at the bottom of a window that is used to indicate the status of a task. For example, when an email message is sent, the status bar will fill with…
Status offense A class of crimes that concerns the accused’s characteristics; for example - truancy only applies to minors.
Status quo or status in quo The existing state of something.
statute Legislative enactment; it may be a single act of a legislature or a body of acts which are collected and arranged for a session of a legislature.
Statute of frauds A statutory requirement that certain contracts must be in writing.
statute of limitations A statute which limits the right of a plaintiff to file an action unless it is done within a specified time period after the occurrence which gives rise…
statutes at large A chronological listing of the laws enacted each Congress. They are published in volumes numbered by Congress.
Statutory Relating to a statute; created or defined by a law.
Statutory Bar A bar to patentability established by law. MPEP 2133.
Statutory construction Process by which a court seeks to interpret the meaning and scope of legislation.
statutory disclaimer Under 35 USC § 253 (paragraph 1) and 37 CFR 1.321(a), the owner (in part or in entirety) of a patent may relinquish all rights to a complete claim or…
Statutory Invention Registration (SIR) Registration of an invention with the USPTO to place an invention in the public domain.
Statutory law Laws promulgated by Congress and state legislatures. See case law and common law.
statutory limit on the public debt The maximum amount, established in law, of public debt that can be outstanding.
Statutory Period The period within which a response be filed with the USPTO if abandonment of the application is to be avoided. MPEP 710.01, MPEP 710.01(a), MPEP 710.
Statutory research Research of legislation enacted by a state or the United States.
Statutory Subject Matter Patentable subject matter. MPEP 2105.