Negotiable Instruments
Most of us use negotiable instruments many times in a year. What is a
negotiable instrument? It is a category of writings, called “instruments,” that
serve two purposes: The instrument can extend credit or serve as a
substitute for actual money, such as a check or money order. Today we rely
on negotiable instruments in many forms to establish transfers of money
and to make payments. The most common example of a negotiable
instrument is a bank check. Interestingly, new technology, such as online
payment systems, seems to be making payment by check a thing of the
past. In this module, we will explore negotiable instruments as well as the
impacts of alternative payment systems on business operations.
The readings and resources in this module will provide a brief history of
negotiable instruments and discuss their use in today's business framework.
This module will also introduce the Uniform Commercial Code as a source
of law.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property refers to the product of a person’s or business’s
creative and mental labor. Protection of one’s intellectual property is
provided by patent, trademark, and copyright laws.
Intellectual property abounds in today’s commercial world. Everything from
books to movies to product packaging to commercial jingles are forms of
