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The article focuses on defamation law in the U.S. It provides the definition of terms which include defamation, libel and slander. It describes the elements of a cause of action for defamation. It examines the defenses to a defamation action including truth, privilege, opinion. It explores the concept of a public figure, citing the Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan. It states that certain allegations are automatically presumed to cause damage to the plaintiff's reputation and image. It also discusses the evolution of defamation in the country.

The article discusses the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on a patent infringement case involving Pleasanton, California-based pharmacology firm Roche Molecular Systems in June 2011. The case was filed by the Stanford University of Palo Alto, California which complained against the move of Roche to market its human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests. The court ruled 7-2 in favor of the pharmacology company.