RULE OF DOUBT
rule of doubt. 1.Copyright. The doctrine that unreadable or incomprehensible identifying
material deposited with the U.S. Copyright Office may not be protected under copyright law
because it cannot be easily examined to determine whether it qualifies. • This rule usu. applies to
computer object code. Unlike a certificate of registration, a filing under the rule of doubt is not
prima facie evidence of a valid copyright. [Cases: Copyrights and Intellectual Property 4. C.J.S.
Copyrights and Intellectual Property §§ 9–10, 16.] 2.Patents. An abandoned judicial doctrine
holding that when there is doubt whether an invention is patentable, the patent should be issued so
that the inventor can test its validity in court. [Blacks Law 8th]