Module overview
This full-year module explores the content of the main intellectual property (IP) rights, as well as the most topical issues facing IP law. It allows and encourages participants to undertake a critical analysis of the state of IP, as well as international influences and the impact of harmonisation at the European Union (EU) level. Whilst lecture and tutorial materials are provided, significant emphasis is placed on self-learning, enabling lectures and tutorials to concentrate on specific topics and issues.
The course will discuss the following:
- Copyright as the law that protects original works of authorship. Some of the questions addressed in this part include: Who can be considered an author? What does 'originality' mean in a copyright context? Do you need permission from the copyright holder to provide links to his/her content over the internet? Can you resell your videogames, ebooks and iTunes music tracks? Do you need permission from the copyright holder to make a parody of his/her work?
- The regime applicable to the use in trade of certain signs or symbols in connection with particular goods or services, i.e. the common law action of passing off and trade mark law. Some of the questions addressed in this part include: What form of IP protection is available to those businesses that use signs and symbols? What is a trade mark, and what are its functions? What is character and personality merchandising, and how can you have a superstar endorse your products?
- The law of confidentiality and privacy. It shall answer questions such as: Why does not the UK have a tort of privacy, and what kind of protection is available to personal information?
- Protection available to inventions. Among other things, it addresses both the requirements to patentability and what subject-matter is excluded from the scope of patent protection, as well as recent reforms in this area of the law such as the EU unitary patent system.