Recently, a famous movie star won a defamation trial against his ex-wife, also a famous movie star. The ex-husband claimed that his ex-wife had defamed him in a Washington Post column, where she inferred that her ex-husband had physically abused her. The ex-wife filed a counterclaim against her ex-husband, claiming that his attorney while acting on the ex-husband's behalf, had defamed her. The ex-husband prevailed in his case and was awarded more than $10 million. The ex-wife also won and was awarded approximately $2 million.

1) Please explain what a tort is and how it applies to business law.

2) Please explain whether the parties in the above-referenced example were accused of torts. If so, what torts specifically?

3) Is defamation is considered an intentional tort or a negligent tort. Please explain.

4) Please conduct brief research into the case,New York Times v. Sullivan, and discuss how that case related to the case with the movie stars. Please list your source or sources in the document.

5) What is the actual malice standard and how does it apply in the cases of the two movie stars?

6) Do you think the standard for proving defamation should be higher for famous people and public figures, or should it be the same for everyone? Please explain your answer.

Part II.

Mickey Mouse made his debut in the animated short film Steamboat Willie in 1928. Mickey Mouse quickly became an icon, helping the Walt Disney Corporation become one of the largest corporations in the world. Today, Mickey Mouse can be found in animated films, books, comic books, t-shirts, lunch boxes, and more.

It is important to note that Steamboat Willie was a work of corporate authorship, meaning that the Walter Disney Corporation holds the copyright. The copyright is set to expire in 2024.

1) Please explain what intellectual property is.

2) Please explain three major types of intellectual property. Does Mickey Mouse constitute intellectual property? What type(s)?

2) Please explain whether the Steamboat Willie film is protected under copyright, trademark, or patent law?

3) Please explain when the Steamboat Willie copyright will expire and what that means. Could I sell copies of the film on eBay? Could I print Mickey Mouse t-shirts?

4) Please explain what the public domain is.

5) Should copyright terms be longer or shorter, or should they remain the same? Please defend your position.