Intellectual Property

Module title	Intellectual Property
Module code	LAW3028
Academic year	2020/1
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr James Griffin (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	12	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	100

Module description

You will learn about the ways in which the intellectual property system has developed, and why it operates as it does. In so doing, you will develop skills that will enable you to think about the system in an analytical manner. You will also cover the practical aspects, such as registration procedures where appropriate.

The IP module will also enable students to critically analyse the legal and policy framework for intellectual property law and to consider the efficaciousness of the regulatory system, for instance, considering whether the intellectual property system achieves its purported aims.

The module will facilitate lively debate concerning potential proposals for legal reform, particularly in relation to the tests of copyright infringement, the consideration of secondary liability, and the application of the law to new areas such as, for example, 3D printing.

The module will encourage you to pursue further study of the area, by looking at the application of the law to novel situations, and (subject to availability) by the involvement of practitioners during the module.

The module will appeal to students who wish to enter into IP practice, either as a lawyer or as an examiner. It will also be of interest to students interested in the regulation of culture.

There are no prerequisites for this module, though some knowledge of IT for copyright, and science for patents, would be useful but is not necessary.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to examine the legal rules and principles involved in UK Copyright, Trademark and Patent Law. In addition to analysing the substantive patent and trade mark laws, the module will consider the underlying rationale of the law. By drawing on a number of legal and non-legal materials the module will explore the complex social, economic and political context in which the law operates.

The module aims to encourage you to critically analyse the operation of the law. Registration and similar procedures can encourage a descriptive approach, so this module will ensure that you will be able to place the systems within context. For instance, the development of copyright law is considered in depth so as to make you aware of the landscape of protection, so that the system can be analysed appropriately. The same is done for Patents and Trade Marks.

The module therefore aims to encourage you to think critically and analyse the broader policy framework underlying IP laws, to consider whether the system meets its purported aims, to become involved in debate concerning the possible proposals for reform, and consider the means by which the current rules may be applied to new technologies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. critically evaluate and analyse the rules and underlying rationale of aspects of intellectual property law
2. recall and critically consider the different influences upon intellectual works
3. understand some of the challenges facing aspects of IP law

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. integrate and assess information from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques;
5. ability to critically analyse the substance & rationale of IP law
6. identify and analyse problems arising from the manner in which IP law is currently implemented

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. select, prioritise, analyse and organise your research to a strict deadline, in order to construct original argument
8. plan and undertake tasks, individually and with others, with minimum guidance, to reflect critically on the learning process and make use of feedback
9. become an active learner, and to have an appropriate conception of how to apply what you have learnt in practice
10. work independently, within a limited time frame, to complete a specified task

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise coverage may vary, it is anticipated that the following topics will be covered:

Introduction to the principles of Intellectual Property Law - Outline & Theory
Remedies
Copyright Introduction
Copyright Subsistence
Copyright Infringement
Copyright Defences
Digital Copyright

Specialist Topics

Patents

Trade Marks

Passing Off

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
48	252	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	28	28 x 1 hour Lecture
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	8	4 x 2 hour Seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	12	8 x 1.5 hour Workshops
Guided independent study	120	Individual reading and lecture preparation
Guided independent study	40	Workshop preparation
Guided independent study	92	Formative and summative assessment preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Practice examination(Term 2)	24 hours; 3,000 words	1-10	Oral and Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
0	100	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Examination	100	3 hours	1-10	Written Feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Examination	Examination (3 hours)	1-10	August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bently, L. and Sherman, B., Intellectual Property Law, 4^th edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014).
Bainbridge, Intellectual Property Law, 9th edition (Longman, 2012).
Copinger and Skone-James, Copinger & Skone-James on Copyright, 17th edition (2016) available on Westlaw
Cornish, Llewelyn & Aplin, Intellectual Property 7th edition (Sweet and Maxwell, 2010)
Holyoak & Torremans, Intellectual Property Law, 5th edition, (OUP, 2008)
Waelde, Brown and Laurie, Contemporary Intellectual Property Law, 3 ^rdedition, (OUP, 2013)

Key words search

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	2001
Last revision date	20/08/2020