Engineers encounter various forms of contracts at nearly every turn in their careers. This book enhances their ability to communicate contractual issues to lawyers and then better understand the consequent legal advice they receive. The text introduces the related subjects of intellectual property (including patents, copyright, trademarks, and trade secrets) and standards (including conformity assessment and accreditation). The author also addresses the role of ethics-at both the micro and macro levels-which recently has been emphasized in response to the collapse of Boston's Big Dig, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the coal mine accident that resulted in the many deaths.
