RATIONALE

Do you prefer Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Android or Apple? Have you sent a meme or a gif to a friend online in the past year? Answering these questions requires interacting with Intellectual Property (IP) Law, which is primarily concerned with protecting the outputs of people’s creative labour, as well as ensuring the decisions we make about what we consume are accurate and fair. IP is a rapidly expanding area of private practice, closely connected to the knowledge-based economy which is shaping the current economic and political order both domestically and globally. The aim of this module is to provide students with a sound knowledge and understanding of IP law, and the commercial and theoretical background to it. The module focuses on the specific ways products and services can be protected using intellectual property rights (specifically copyright, trademarks, designs, and patents) as well as the related actions of passing off and breach of confidence. This specialist module in IP introduces undergraduate students to this increasingly important area of law, which has its own rules and procedures.

Intellectual property (IP) is a rapidly expanding area of private practice that is closely connected to the knowledge-based economy which is shaping the current economic and political order both domestically and globally. The subject concerns an area of law of detailed and structured study that requires specialist knowledge. The aim of this module is to provide students with a sound knowledge and understanding of the law of intellectual property. The module gives an introduction to the rationale of IP and the influence that is exercised by external systems (e.g. International economic law). Its main focus is put on the laws of copyright, trademarks, designs, patents, passing off and breach of confidence, and the available remedies. 

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to examine key concepts in IP law, analyse a range of legal issues in IP law, critically evaluate the balance between competing legal interests, and apply legal knowledge to practical, factual situations.

AIMS

Through the completion of this module students will have the skills and experience required to successfully satisfy the requirements for UK and international legal professional bodies in relation to understanding of topics in this area, by:

●    Discussing and demonstrating knowledge of differing modes of legal protection of intellectual property rights in England and Wales.
●    Identifying and applying elements of intellectual property law and relevant remedies to solve legal problems.
●    Critically examining the impact of international treaties on developments in intellectual property law in England and Wales.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to: 

1.    Demonstrate complex knowledge of key topics of IP law in England and Wales.
2.    Critically analyse the law in relation to problems in intellectual property.
3.    Critically examine the impact of international treaties on developments in intellectual property law in England and Wales.
4.    Demonstrate enhanced communication and presentation skills.