Module LAW3061: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Department: LAW

LAW3061: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Prerequisites

• The Law of Obligations (LAW1023) AND Public Law (LAW1013).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide students with a sound understanding of the law of intellectual property at a national, regional and international level, as well as providing an insight into the administration and management of these intellectual properties
• In addition it aims to introduce the student to some of the historical, theoretical, social and political contexts which inform the substantive content of intellectual property law.

Content

• The concept of property and the nature of intellectual property rights and obligations
• The international administration of intellectual property, the exploitation of intellectual property, the impact of the EC upon the domestic legal system, and the exhaustion of rights doctrine
• Remedies available for the infringement of intellectual properties
• Copyright Law: subject matter and scope of protection; criteria for protection; duration; authorship and ownership; employee's works; moral rights; infringement; permitted acts
• Patent law: grant and content; validity; scope and duration; employee's inventions; restrictions upon unfair exercise
• The Law of Trade Marks: registration; absolute and relative grounds for refusal; nature of protection; infringement; defences; revocation, invalidity and acquiescence; remedies and infringement; passing off
• The Law of Designs: registered designs; unregistered designs; design drawings for artistic works. European registered designs; European unregistered designs
• Confidential Information: history and development of the confidence action; elements for breach; confidential information and trade secrets; employees and obligation of confidence; unauthorised use, public interest defence; remedies
• Image Rights: personal confidential information; publicity rights; the relevance of trade marks law; the relevance of passing off

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the law of intellectual property within a national, regional and international context.

• Students should be able to:
• Apply their knowledge of substantive law to given factual situations and advise accordingly
• Analyse and evaluate the existing law in light of the legal, theoretical, social and political issues raised
• Engage in informed debate concerning the reform and/or future directions of intellectual property law

• Students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a clear ability to work independently as well as taking responsibility for his or her own learning

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Students are expected to work independently, in preparation for each seminar. A framework lecture will be delivered in order to offer a "starting point" for the preparation of the following seminar topic. Seminars provide the opportunity for students to develop and enhance their capacity for legal-problem solving in a particular factual situation, evaluative critical analysis and their appreciation of laws' linkage with broader fields of enquiry.
• Assignments (formative) are used both to develop problem-solving skills, the ability to engage in sustained evaluation of proposed schemes of reforms, and the ability to evaluate the law in a critical and contextual way.
• Summative assessment comprises one unseen examination of two hours fifteen minutes (including fifteen minutes reading time). Students are given a choice of questions to answer, but the paper is structured in such a way as to assess students on all the specific outcomes. In particular, students are required to answer both problem and essay type questions: the former primarily assessing knowledge and analysis of specific factual situations raising key legal issues; the latter primarily assess knowledge, evaluative capacity and an awareness of placing the analysis of law in wider contexts of enquiry.
• Students will be supported and encouraged in the development of their research and writing skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1 essay/term

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University