(US, broadcasting, historical) A policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949 and abolished in 1987, requiring the holders of broadcast licenses (i) to present controversial issues of public importance and (ii) to do so in an honest, equitable and balanced manner.

(law) A rule applied in United States trademark under which foreign words are translated into English to determine whether they are registrable as trademarks, or are either descriptive or confusingly similar with existing marks.

Alternative spelling of first-sale doctrine

(US, law) A legal doctrine that limits the rights of a copyright or trademark owner by allowing certain forms of distribution, such as enabling individuals to sell legally purchased copyrighted works to others.

(economics) The theory that there is at any given time in a country a determinate amount of capital available for the payment of labour, therefore the average wage depends on the proportion of this fund to the number of persons who have to share in it.

(law) Synonym of fireman's rule

(Canada, law) A doctrine of constitutional interpretation according to which the constitution must be read in a broad and progressive way so as to adapt it to the changing times.

(law) A legal concept where a court finds that portions of a contract are unenforceable, but other portions of the contract are enforceable.

Synonym of doctrine of necessity

Without a doctrine.