Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: International Legal Dictionary

public.law

31–36 of 36 posts

Re: Show HN: International Legal Dictionary

#31
post #28

A somewhat similar project that I started at Google (this was US-only) was: Common constructions of computer terms ("database", "processor", "thread", etc.) These words appear in patent claims, and the claims are what determine infringement (I use the word "construction" instead of "definition" deliberately). You might well think there's a standard dictionary of them. There is not, at least as of 5-6 years ago. The p…

There are some patent dictionaries based on how US courts defined terms. For example (over a decade old): http://www.pubpat.org/garrod-glossaries.htm The USPTO also had a glossary pilot program at some point, but it ended and I guess was not considered useful: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/initiatives/glossary-initiativ... I think patent attorneys and agents could avoid most of this problem if they wrote better. I'm…

Thanks, and I'm all about shameless plugs :)

Having been in Litigation: there's immense value in having vague terms. 15 years later when you're asserting the patent, you really need to be able to say your claims cover something you couldn't possibly have anticipated.

I know that's legal gamesmanship and I'm not applauding it.

Re: Show HN: International Legal Dictionary

#32
617 entries is nothing. Look at Black's Law Dictionary. The problem with Black's is that as much as a third is archaic. Maybe half. Uncommon words and phrases that lawyers use would be useful--"affiant" is missing, btw--but at best this is a minor glossary. "Process server" is also missing. I once saw this translated as "judicial notifier." It's a phrase "uncommon" lawyers have trouble with, since it requires an understanding of two concepts that have nothing to do with each other.

The idea of using the program for specialized vocabulary, or building your own glossary, is much more interesting.

Re: Show HN: International Legal Dictionary

#34
Congratulations on the launch!

The content on public.law (great domain) is useful and looks like its headed in the right direction. A small suggestion would be to move the newsletter signup from home page (or) at-least from hero to footer? And get other USP like the legal dictionary there.

Since the site covers international law, Perhaps you might be interested in the need-gap: 'Compare law of the land in an easy way'[1] posted on my problem validation forum; Say like if someone travels from USA to India then what major laws should they know about.

[1] https://needgap.com/problems/255-compare-law-of-the-land-in-...

Re: Show HN: International Legal Dictionary

#36

617 entries is nothing. Look at Black's Law Dictionary. The problem with Black's is that as much as a third is archaic. Maybe half. Uncommon words and phrases that lawyers use would be useful--"affiant" is missing, btw--but at best this is a minor glossary. "Process server" is also missing. I once saw this translated as "judicial notifier." It's a phrase "uncommon" lawyers have trouble with, since it requires an unde…

Thanks, interesting critique. The app is an MVP - really a platform into which new definitions can be poured.

I did a little searching and found this source for affiant which will be good to add. https://www.sos.nd.gov/notaries-public/notary-terms-and-defi...

For sure, I agree, definitions of the lesser common words will be the most valuable to site visitors.

Post reply on HN