Intellectual Property Law
- Unit value:
- 1
- Year of study:
- Year 2, Year 3 or Year 4
Objectives and learning outcomes of the course
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of the intellectual property system in the UK;
- demonstrate sound knowledge of the general principles governing copyright, sui generis database right, registered and unregistered designs, confidentiality, patents and trade marks law;
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of new technologies on intellectual property; and
- identify and evaluate the impact of EU law on the IP system of the UK.
Scope and syllabus
Intellectual property is a collective noun for an aggregate of individual disciplines of law: copyright, sui generis databases right, designs, patents, breach of confidence and trade marks. The only common theme among them is that all are concerned with intangible creation. Although the term intellectual property also includes plant and seed varieties, malicious falsehood and protection of performers, these will not be dealt with in this course
Week 1: Introduction/History/Justifications
Week II: Copyright- Subject Matter/Originality/Fixation.
Week III: Authorship/Ownership
Week IV: Moral Rights
Week V: Economic Rights-Reproduction
Week VI: Reading Week
Week VII: Economic Rights- communication in public and communication to the public
Week VIII: Exceptions and Limitations-Fair Dealing
Week IX: Direct Broadcasting by Satellite/Internet/Conflict of Laws
Week X: Sui generis database right- UK/EU
Week XI: Sui generis database right- Harmonisation/Court of Justice of the European Union
Week XII: Designs- Unregistered designs
Week XIII: Designs- Registered Designs
Week XIV: Patents- Subject Matter
Week XV: Patents- Novelty- Inventive Step-Industrial Application
Week XVI: Patents-- Biotechnology/Methods of Medical and Veterinary Treatment
Week XVII: Reading Week
Week XVIII: Breach of Confidence
Week XIX: Breach of Confidence
Week XX: Trade Marks and passing off
Week XXI: Trade Marks-Grounds for Refusal of Registration
Week XXII: Revision
Objectives
The course aims to:
- provide a comprehensive study of the nature and development of the UK intellectual property system;
- examine the impact of international treaties and EU law on the intellectual property system of the UK; and
- assess whether the existing intellectual property system encourages creativity and innovation.
Method of assessment
Assessment weighting: 20% coursework (two essays, each worth 10%); 80% unseen examination.
