Conflict of interests : A conflict between a person’s private interests and public obligations.

Copyright : A copyright is a legal device that gives the creator of a literary, artistic, musical, or other creative work the sole right to publish and sell that work. Copyright owners have the right to control the reproduction of their work, including the right to receive payment for thatreproduction. An author may grant or sell those rights to others, including publishers or recording companies

Declarant : the person making a statement, usually written and signed by that person, under « penalty of perjury » pursuant to the laws of the state in which the statement, called a declaration, is made.

Defendant/accused : The person defending or denying; the party against whom relief orrecovery is sought in an action or suit, or the accused in a criminal case.

To defraud : To make a misrepresentation of an existing material fact, knowing it to be false or making it recklessly without regard to whether it is true or false, intending for someone to rely on the misrepresentation and under circumstances in which such person does rely on it to his or her damage.

To dishonour : torefuse to pay the face amount of a check or the amount due on a promissory note.

To dispute : to have a conflict or controversy; a conflict of claims or rights; an assertion of a right, claim, or demand on one side, met by contrary claims or allegations on the other.

Effective date : The date on which a new offering registered with the SEC may be sold by underwriters. There is usually a20-day cooling-off period between the filing of a registration and the effective date.

To endorse/back : to sign one’s name to the back of a check, bill of exchange or other negotiable instrument with the intention of making it cashable or transferable. 2) to pledge support to a program, proposal, or candidate.

Fair rent : the rent for a private tenancy, fixed and registered by a rent officer,and based on the size, condition, and usefulness of the property, but not its scarcity value

Fine : payment for misconduct/penalty.

First mortgage : a mortgage that has priority over other mortgages on the same property, except for taxation and other statutory liabilities.

Fraud/swindle : A false representation of a matter of fact—whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleadingallegations, or by concealment of what should have been disclosed—that deceives and is intended to deceive another so that the individual will act upon it to her or his legal injury.

To give due notice : to give information that must be given or made available to a particular person or to the public within a legally mandated period of time so that its recipient will have the opportunity to respondto a situation or to allegations that affect the individual’s or public’s legal rights or duties.

Patent office : a government bureau that studies claims for, grants, and maintains records of patents.

Patent pending : The expressions « patent pending » (sometimes abbreviated by « pat. pend. » or « pat. pending ») or « patent applied for » refer to a warning that inventors are entitled to use inreference to their product or process once a patent application has been filed, but prior to the patent being issued or the application abandoned. The marking serves to notify potential infringers who would copy the invention that they may be liable for damages (including back-dated royalties), seizure, and injunction once a patent is issued.

By proxy : in lieu of
Proxy/power of attorney : A proxyis a person who is designated by another to represent that individual at a meeting or before a public body. It also refers to the written authorization allowing one person to act on behalf of another.

Prescription : the method of acquiring an easement upon another’s real property by continued and regular use without permission of the property owner for a period of years required by the law of…