Unfair competition laws are designed to protect consumers and businesses from unfair, deceptive business or trade practices. Unfair competition claims include trademark infringement, patent infringement, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of restrictive covenants in employment agreements and contracts for the sale of businesses.

Unfair or deceptive trade practices usually target consumers and include misleading claims about the quality or characteristics of goods or services; bait and switch sales tactics; and the unauthorized substitution of an advertised or represented brand or quality of goods for a lesser brand or quality of goods. Most unfair competition laws are located in state statutes and court opinions (common law). But patent, copyright, and trademark laws that may be the source of unfair competition claims are located in federal statutes.

In Rhode Island, unfair competition laws are in place to protect both consumers and businesses from deceptive and unfair trade practices. These laws encompass a range of issues including trademark infringement, patent infringement, copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breaches of restrictive covenants in employment or business sale contracts. Rhode Island adheres to both state statutes and common law precedents to address unfair competition. For consumers, the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act prohibits practices such as false advertising, bait and switch tactics, and the unauthorized substitution of products. At the federal level, intellectual property rights including patents, copyrights, and trademarks are governed by federal statutes such as the Lanham Act for trademarks, the Patent Act, and the Copyright Act. These federal laws provide a framework for addressing unfair competition claims that arise from the infringement of these protected rights. Individuals or businesses facing issues related to unfair competition in Rhode Island may seek legal recourse through the state's legal system or, where applicable, through federal courts.