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Intellectual Property Law

Module description

In the module, you will learn to critically examine how intellectual property law (IPL) emerged and developed to gain insights about key contemporary debates -from access to patented medicines to trademarked goods in the metaverse. In doing so, you will develop the necessary skills to analyse in detail selected challenges presented to and by the current intellectual property law system from an interdisciplinary and global/comparativist perspective.

The IPL module is designed to be highly interactive to facilitate the continuous debate and exchange of ideas. It will explore, where relevant, options for legal transformation in view of rapidly evolving societal demands, providing space to consider a wide range of issues, with an emphasis on tensions between private and public law (especially as regards public policy exceptions). This module will be of interest to students considering work or pursuing further research in novel areas of intellectual property law.

While this is not a requirement, it is highly recommended that students have studied intellectual property law and public/private international law at undergraduate level.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The IPL module aims at critically examining novel and emerging areas of intellectual property law. Selected contemporary areas will be particularly relevant to those with a broad interest in international commercial/economic law -including dispute resolution, technology, competition/antitrust- and to students interested in working on interdisciplinary matters involving IPL human rights, public health and food/agriculture.

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 IPL;
• 2. Understand selected contemporary challenges in IPL;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Use internationally relevant legal and non-legal materials relevant to IPL, using appropriate interpretative techniques;
• 4. Identify and solve complex legal problems, asses their significance, and select appropriate methods for critically evaluating them;

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Select, prioritise, critically analyse and present research in order to construct original arguments in assessments and teaching sessions;
• 6. Plan and undertake tasks independently, while reflecting critically on the learning process.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Introduction to the principles underlying Intellectual Property Law
• International laws for Intellectual Property Law: Berne Convention, Paris Convention and TRIPS
• Trademark Law
• Patent Law
• Passing Off and Geographical Indications
• Copyright Law
• Digital Intellectual Property Law
• Specialist topics (e.g.: software copyright, artificial intelligence (AI) patenting, non-fungible tokens (NFT) as trademarks).

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Brown, Kheria, Cornwell & Iljadica, Contemporary Intellectual Property, 6^th edition (OUP 2023)

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Karapapa and McDonagh Intellectual Property Law (OUP 2019) Bently, Sherman, Gangjee, and Johnson, Intellectual Property Law, 6^th edition (OUP 2022)

Key words search

Intellectual property law, intellectual property rights